Hormonal Function of Undescended Testes Before Orchidopexy in Prepubertal Boys.

The hormonal aspect of undescended testes (UDTs) in prepubertal boys, i.e., after mini-puberty, is poorly understood.

Sperm Migration and Hyaluronic Acid Binding: Implications for Male Fertility Evaluation.

Mature, vital, and motile spermatozoa are essential for reaching the oocyte and binding to hyaluronic acid (HA) in the cumulus oophorus matrix. This study aims to determine the relationship between sperm-migration ability and HA-binding potential, as well as the relationship between sperm concentration and motility. Semen samples were collected from 702 men aged 20-56 years (median 34.

A New Approach to the Assessment of Erectile Dysfunction Based on Vasomotion Monitored by the Flow-Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) Technique-A Preliminary Study.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) most often has vascular etiology and usually is the earliest symptom of vascular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate vascular dysfunction with the use of the Flow-Mediated Skin Fluorescence (FMSF) technique in men with and without ED. Included were 39 men (median age 53) with ED and 40 men (median age 41.

Undescended Testes Growth Potential in Relation to Testis Position from Diagnosis until Puberty.

: Testicular volume (TV) and testicular atrophy index (TAI) were used to determine criteria for normal, hypotrophic and atrophic undescended testes (UDT). : This study aimed to determine changes in TV and TAI in patients with different types of UDT. : 182 boys (aged 0.

Daily levels of sex hormones in 15 subfertile women formulate a menstrual cycle profile predominant with progesterone secretion.

Introduction: Changes in sex hormone secretions during the menstrual cycle may affect fertility. It has been shown that a prematurely raised progesterone (P4) level after therapeutic injection of human chorionic gonadotropin caused changes in endometrial gene expression and lowered the pregnancy rate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the complete menstrual patterns of P4 together with its derivatives testosterone (T) and oestradiol (E2) in subfertile women during their natural cycles.

Decoding the role of cytochrome c in metabolism of human spermatozoa by Raman imaging.

The normal functioning of sperm cells requires cytochrome c in the redox balanced forms: reduced and oxidized. The oxidized form of cytochrome c is localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space and is a part of the electron transport chain. This ensures that electron shuttling between the complex III, cytochrome c, and complex IV can occur leading to controlled effective oxidative phosphorylation (respiration) and ATP production needed for most steps in spermatozoal maturation, motility, hyperactivation and fertilization.

Testicular, Epididymal and Vasal Anomalies in Pediatric Patients with Cryptorchid Testes and Testes with Communicating Hydrocele.

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of the testicular, epididymal, and vasal anomalies (TEVA) in cryptorchid and communicating hydrocele pediatric patients. Six hundred and ninety-one prepubertal boys underwent inguinal exploration for 741 undescended (UDT) or hydrocele testes. Two hundred and fifty-five TEVA were detected in 154 UDT boys, compared to 32 defects in 24 hydrocele patients (p < 0.

Expression of G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor () in Whole Testicular Tissue and Laser-Capture Microdissected Testicular Compartments of Men with Normal and Aberrant Spermatogenesis.

In this study, we retrospectively investigated expression in biopsies of azoospermic men with complete (obstructive azoospermia-OA) and aberrant spermatogenesis (nonobstructive azoospermia-NOA). Each biopsy was histologically evaluated with morphometry. The testicular expression was analyzed by the immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR technique in the whole testicular tissue and in seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells after laser-capture microdissection.

Risk of gonadal neoplasia in patients with disorders/differences of sex development.

Background: Patients with disorders/differences of sex development (DSD), especially those possessing the Y chromosome, have a higher risk of gonadal germ-cell tumours (GCTs). We aimed to examine the incidence of different types of gonadal neoplasia and associated risk factors.

Methods: A total of 1040 DSD patients aged ≥16 years participated in a cross-sectional multicentre European study (dsd-LIFE).

Features of gonadal dysgenesis and Leydig cell impairment in testes with Sertoli cell-only syndrome.

Introduction: There is evidence that disturbed spermatogenesis is associated with impaired Leydig cell function and that it may be the result of testicular dysgenesis during fetal/infant development. Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) is defined by complete lack of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium. The pathogenesis of SCOS is still not well understood.

The risk of mental disorders in patients with disorders/differences of sex differentiation/development (DSD) and Y chromosome.

Introduction: Patients with disorders/differences of sex differentiation/development (DSD) are exposed to physical and mental suffering. The aim of the study was to assess the following: the mental health status and the risk of mental problems in adult DSD patients, their dependence on therapeutic procedures, and to identify groups of disorders that require particular psychological support.

Material And Methods: The study involved 59 patients with DSD (gonadal dysgenesis - GD, androgen insensitivity syndrome - AIS, 5-alpha reductase deficiency, ovotestis), and with the Y chromosome in the karyotype, aged 16-65 years.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Index and Hyaluronan Binding Ability in Men from Infertile Couples and Men with Testicular Germ Cell Tumor.

. To investigate sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm functional maturity in men from infertile couples (IC) and men with testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT). .

The risk of neoplasm associated with dysgenetic testes in prepubertal and pubertal/adult patients.

Introduction: In patients with Y-chromosome in the karyotype, partial gonadal dysgenesis and disorders of male reproductive sex organs development are usually resected in childhood because of the high risk of germ cell tumours (GCT). In patients with Y-chromosome, complete gonadal dysgenesis and female genitalia gonadectomy is performed markedly later. However, due to the relatively low number of adult patients with preserved dysgenetic gonads, the true risk of neoplasm is unknown.

The long-term effects of FSH and triiodothyronine administration during the pubertal period on Connexin 43 expression and spermatogenesis efficiency in adult rats.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) are known regulatory factors of spermatogenesis initiation. Hyperstimulation of both hormones evokes regressional changes in connexin 43 expression and the seminiferous epithelium in young rats during testicular maturation. However, separate treatments with T3 reduce Sertoli cell number, which seems to be closely connected with the maturation of connexin 43 gap junctions.

Free and bioavailable fractions of sex steroids may influence bones in young men, depending on age and oestradiol level.

Introduction: Longitudinal bone growth ceases by the end of puberty, and it is thought to be a result, in both sexes, of increased pubertal oestrogen serum concentrations. Since peak bone mass is achieved by the third decade of life or later, the aim of this study was to relate sex steroid hormones and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels to bone quality in men during their third and fourth decades of life.

Material And Methods: Eighty men, healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 39 years, were subjected to an interviewer-administered questionnaire, body mass index (BMI) measurement, blood sample and calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) (Hologic-SAHARA).

Relationship between sexual function, body mass index and levels of sex steroid hormones in young men.

Introduction: In older men, sexual disorders may be the result of a decrease in testosterone and an increase in sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) serum levels. Although obesity may enhance the decline of testosterone, it is also the cause of metabolic disorders, which are additional risk factors of erectile dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether elevated body weight is associated with decreased serum testosterone concentrations and reduced sexual function in young men.

Estradiol and testosterone inhibit rat seminiferous tubule development in a hormone-specific way.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) are known to regulate testis maturation, and changes in FSH secretion induced by sex steroid treatment may mediate the effects of sex hormones. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of T and E2 on the pre-meiotic steps of first spermatogenesis and FSH level in rats. Male rat pups were injected daily with 17β-estradiol benzoate (EB; 12.

Semen analysis standardization: is there any problem in Polish laboratories?

The aim of the study was to determine the degree of compliance of Polish laboratories with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, with regard to semen analysis methodology. A survey requesting information about methods of semen analysis was distributed to employees of 55 laboratories. Respondents who had participated in external seminological workshops (31%) were termed certified respondents (CR), the remaining (69%)-non-certified respondents (NCR).

Maturational changes in connexin 43 expression in the seminiferous tubules may depend on thyroid hormone action.

Introduction: Connexin 43 (Cx43) mediates the effect of thyroid hormone on Sertoli cell maturation in vitro. We investigated the influence of triiodothyronine (T3) administration on Cx43 expression in relation to the progress in seminiferous tubule maturation.

Material And Methods: Male rats were daily injected with 100 µg T3/kg body weight from birth until postnatal day (pnd) 5 (transient treatment - tT3) or until pnd 15 (continuous treatment - cT3) or solvent - control (C).

Estrogen receptor alpha localization in the testes of men with normal spermatogenesis.

It is known that estrogens act on the male reproductive tract by binding to estrogen receptors (ER) α and β. However, studies on ER localization in the human testis are discordant. The aim of this study was to investigate the localization of ERα in the testes of adult men with normal spermatogenesis.

Di(n-butyl) phthalate has no effect on the rat prepubertal testis despite its estrogenic activity in vitro.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) on the rat's prepubertal testis. Male Wistar rats were given daily subcutaneous injections with DBP (20 or 200 μg) or a vehicle from the 5th to the 15th postnatal day (pd). On the 16(th) pd, the rats were euthanized, and the testes were dissected, weighed, and paraffin embedded.

Triiodothyronine modulates initiation of spermatogenesis in rats depending on treatment timing and blood level of the hormone.

Triiodothyronine (T3) stimulates spermatogenic onset but the influence of T3 on spermatogonia development is unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of T3 for both processes simultaneously. Male rats were given daily injections of 100 μg T3/kg body weight or vehicle from birth until postnatal day (pnd) 5 and euthanized on pnd 6 (short T3-sT3).

Role of FSH and triiodothyronine in Sertoli cell development expressed by formation of connexin 43-based gap junctions.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) are known regulatory factors of spermatogenesis initiation. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most ubiquitous constitutive protein of gap junctions in the testis. This study evaluates the effects of the hyperstimulation of FSH and T3 during testicular maturation on Cx43 expression in the testis.

Semen quality in men from subfertile couples from the region of Łódź (Poland) according to the new reference values recommended by WHO 2010.

The semen analysis is the main diagnostic tool for evaluating the male fertility potential. The standard semen analysis includes evaluation of the sperm concentration, motility, and their morphology. The most important question is whether the results from semen analysis may be accurate markers for male fertility.

Administration of testosterone inhibits initiation of seminal tubule growth and decreases Sertoli cell number in the earliest period of rat's postnatal development.

Unlabelled: Sertoli cell (SC) number determines testes size and their capacity to produce spermatozoa. In the rat SC proliferate until 15th postnatal day (PND). Their proliferation is stimulated by FSH and inhibited by estradiol, but the role for androgens is uncertain.