Thesis
Comparison of host endocrine environment, donor tissue age and duration on spermatogenesis in ectopic murine testis grafts
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2004
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/180
Abstract
Testicular grafting has been used to provide alternative means to investigate spermatogenesis in non-testis environments. This technique could lead to identification of infertility factors and sperm from cancer treated patients. Ectopic testis grafting in different species has demonstrated multiple factors may affect sperm production. The objective of this study was to identify host endocrine factors that influence sperm production in ectopic testis grafts. Intact or gonadectomized male and female nude mice were used as recipients for testis allografts from neonatal mice. In addition, the durations of the grafts, 35 or 70 days, and the age of donor tissue 0-5, 6-10, and 11-15 days post partum (dpp) were examined to find parameters for sperm production in grafts. Graft weight, testosterone levels, seminal vesicle weight and percentage of seminiferous tubules with elongated spermatids were endpoints of analysis. It was found that testosterone was present in all of the mice indicating Leydig cell function within the grafts. At 70 days post graft, the seminal vesicle weights of castrated and intact recipients were similar indicating graft testosterone production. Testis tissue from 0-5 dpp mice had the greatest weight increase among all donor age tissue ranges and a graft duration of 70d produced heavier graft weights than the duration of 35d. Also it was found that in all recipients gonadectomized recipients had higher graft weights than intact animals. When tubules containing elongate spermatids were examined, it was shown that in all observed recipient groups a graft duration of 70d produced more elongate spermatids than did the duration of 35d. Of the 70d recipients, donor tissue grafted to castrated recipients had the highest percentage of elongated spermatids while donor tissue grafted for ovariectomized mice displayed a statistically similar percentage of elongates to the second highest group, intact males. From this study, testis grafts from ovariectomized females produced sperm at similar levels to grafts on male intact recipients. In addition, grafts on ovariectomized females produced sperm similar to grafts on castrated mice, indicating they are suitable testis graft hosts. The best parameters for testis graft elongate spermatid production in gonadectomized recipients were donor tissue of 0-5 or 11-15 dpp and 70d grafting period. This is the first study in which multiple age ranges were used as testis donors for ectopic grafting. Implications of this work indicate the extent that donor testis differentiation and host environment may impact sperm production in grafts.
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Details
- Title
- Comparison of host endocrine environment, donor tissue age and duration on spermatogenesis in ectopic murine testis grafts
- Creators
- Homer Clarence Adams
- Contributors
- Derek J. McLean (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Animal Sciences, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900525096601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis