Testicular concentration of meiosis-activating sterol is associated with normal testicular descent.
Abstract: In the cryptorchid stallion, spermatogenesis is arrested at various levels before the completion of meiosis. In men, infantile cryptorchidism is also often associated with oligo- and azoospermia during adulthood. An impairment of spermatogenesis might be reflected in the level of locally produced factors. Formerly, a meiosis-activating sterol (T-MAS) has been isolated in murine and bovine testes. This sterol possesses the potential to trigger resumption of meiosis in cultured mouse oocytes, indicating that it might play an important role in the regulation of the meiotic process in the female gamete. The function of T-MAS in the testis is still unclear, but T-MAS may be associated with spermatogenesis. The objectives of this study were 1) to demonstrate the presence of T-MAS in equine testes, 2) to compare the contents of T-MAS in testicular tissue of stallions with complete and incomplete testicular descent and 3) to compare testicular T-MAS concentration before and after puberty Testes were collected from 16 normal and cryptorchid stallions submitted for castration and stored at -80 degrees C until the content of T-MAS was measured quantitatively with an HPLC-assay. In stallions > or = 2 years of age, the content of T-MAS was higher (P < 0.001) in normal testes (19.3+/-1.1 microg T-MAS/g, n=7) than in inguinally (4.1+/-2.4 microg T-MAS/g, n=4) or abdominally located testes (1.6+/-0.2 microg T-MAS/g, n=2). The contents of T-MAS in normal testes from stallions < 2 years of age (2.8+/-1.5 microg T-MAS/g, n=4) was lower than in normal testes from stallions > or =2 years of age (P < 0.001) From the present study it can be concluded that T-MAS is present in equine testicular tissue. Furthermore, the present study demonstrates that the production of T-MAS in testicular tissue is, concurrently with spermatogenesis, associated with normal testicular descent and is temporarily related to the onset of puberty.
Publication Date: 2001-04-09 PubMed ID: 11291920DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(01)00459-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigated the association between the concentration of a sterol called Testicular Meiosis-Activating Sterol (T-MAS) with normal testicular descent in horses. The study found that T-MAS, known to trigger meiosis in female gametes, is higher in normal testes and appears to be linked with the process of sperm production, as well as descent of the testes and onset of puberty.
Study Objectives and Methods
- The goal of the research was threefold: to prove the presence of T-MAS in horse testes, to compare the T-MAS levels in horses with complete versus incomplete testicular descent, and to measure the concentration of T-MAS in pre and post-pubescent horses.
- For this study, testes were collected from 16 stallions, both normal and cryptorchid (those with undescended testicles), that were submitted for castration. These samples were then stored in very low temperatures until they were ready to be examined quantitatively for the presence of T-MAS via a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) assay.
Key Findings
- In stallions aged two years and older, the T-MAS content was found to be significantly higher in normal testes as compared to those located in the groin or abdomen.
- The T-MAS concentration in normal testes of stallions below two years of age was noticeably lower than in those aged two years and above. This suggests that the production of T-MAS is related to the onset of puberty.
- Overall, the study concluded that T-MAS is present in equine testicular tissue and the production of this sterol in equine testicular tissue is associated with normal testicular descent and is related to the onset of puberty.
Implications
- The study’s findings imply that abnormal descent of testes, as seen in cryptorchid stallions, may be linked with a lower concentration of T-MAS, and thus, possible issues with spermatogenesis, pointing towards a potential future avenue of investigation for equine fertility research.
- It brings up more questions about the precise role and importance of T-MAS in both spermatogenesis and the physical development of the testes. More knowledge in this area could help improve treatment strategies for fertility issues in stallions with cryptorchidism.
Cite This Article
APA
Bøgh IB, Baltsen M, Byskov AG, Greve T.
(2001).
Testicular concentration of meiosis-activating sterol is associated with normal testicular descent.
Theriogenology, 55(4), 983-992.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(01)00459-9 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Section for Reproduction Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. ibb@kvl.dk
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Cholestadienols / analysis
- Cryptorchidism / metabolism
- Cryptorchidism / pathology
- Cryptorchidism / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Organ Size
- Seasons
- Sexual Maturation
- Spermatogenesis
- Testis / chemistry
- Testis / pathology
- Testosterone / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Keber R, Rozman D, Horvat S. Sterols in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. J Lipid Res 2013 Jan;54(1):20-33.
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