Function of seminal vesicles and their role on male fertility

The present review has been designed to update the recent developments on the function of seminal vesicles andtheir role on male fertility. It is indicated that the true corrected fructose level is a simple method for the assessment ofthe seminal vesicular function. Measurement of seminal fructose used universally as a marker of the seminal vesiclefunction is not an appropriate approach due to its inverse relationship with the sperm count. The true corrected fructosedefined as [log. motile sperm concentration] multiplied by [seminal fructose concentration] has been shown to be abetter marker of the seminal vesicle function. Seminal vesicular secretion is important for semen coagulation, sperm motility, and stability of sperm chromatinand suppression of the immune activity in the female reproductive tract. In conclusion, the function of seminal vesicle is important for fertility. Parameters as sperm motility, sperm chro-matin stability, and immuno-protection may be changed in case of its hypofunction. (Asian J Androl 2001 Dec; 3:251 -258)

Serum testosterone levels and excessive erythrocytosis during the process of adaptation to high altitudes

Populations living at high altitudes （HAs）, particularly in the Peruvian Andes, are characterized by a mixture of subjects with erythrocytosis （16 g dl-1〈haemoglobin （Hb）≤21 gdl-1） and others with excessive erythrocytosis （EE） （Hb〉21 g dl-1）. Elevated haemoglobin values （EE） are associated with chronic mountain sickness, a condition reflecting the lack of adaptation to HA. According to current data, native men from regions of HA are not adequately adapted to live at such altitudes if they have elevated serum testosterone levels. This seems to be due to an increased conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate （DH EAS） to testosterone. Men with erythrocytosis at HAs show higher serum androstenedione levels and a lower testosterone/androstenedione ratio than men with EE, suggesting reduced 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （17beta-HSD） activity. Lower 17beta-HSD activity via A4-steroid production in men with erythrocytosis at HA may protect against elevated serum testosterone levels, thus preventing EE. The higher conversion of DHEAS to testosterone in subjects with EE indicates increased 17beta-HSD activity via the A5-pathway. Currently, there are various situations in which people live （human biodiversity） with low or high haemoglobin levels at HA. Antiquity could be an important adaptation component for life at HA, and testosterone seems to participate in this process.

Effect of Lepidium meyenii(maca)roots on spermatogenesis of male rats

Aim:To determine the effect of oral administration of an aqueous extract from the roots of Lepidium meyenii(maca)on spermatogenesis in adult male rats.Methods;Male rats received an aqueous extract of the root(66.7 mg in onemL)twice a day for 14 consecutive days.Results:Treatment with Lepidium meyenii resulted in an increase in theweights of testis and epididymis but not the seminal vesicle weight.The length and frequency of stages IX-XIV seminif-erous tubules,where mitosis occurred,were increased and stages I-VI were reduced in rats treated with Lepidiummeyenii.Conclusion;The Lepidium meyenii root invigorates spermatogenesis in male rats by acting on its initialstages(IX-XIV).

Effect of two different extracts of red maca in male rats with testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia

Aim： To determine the effect of two different extracts of red maca in male rats. Methods： Prostatic hyperplasia was induced in male rats with testosterone enanthate （TE）. The study comprised six groups： one control group （group 1）, one group treated with TE （group 2）, two groups treated with TE and aqueous extract of red maca （groups 3 and 4）, one group treated with hydroalcoholic extract of red maca （group 5） and one group treated with finasteride （0.1 mg, group 6）. Differences in the aqueous extract dependent on the length of time of boiling, whether for 2 or 3 hours, for groups 3 and 4 was assessed. Extracts of red maca contained 0.1 mg of benzylglucosinolate. Thereafter, a doseresponse effect of different doses of benzylglucosinolates （0.02-0.08 mg） in red maca extracts was assessed. Results： Prostate weight was similar in rats treated with freeze-dried aqueous extract of red maca prepared after 2 and 3 hours of boiling. Freeze-dried aqueous extract of red maca, hydroalcoholic extract of red maca and finasteride reduced prostate weight in rats with prostatic hyperplasia. No difference was observed between the data obtained from aqueous extract or hydroalcoholic extract of red maca. A dose dependent reduction of prostate weight was observed with the increase of the dose of benzylglucosinolates in red maca extracts. Conclusion： The present study showed that hydroalcoholic or aqueous extract of red maca containing 0.1 mg of benzylglucosinolate can reduce prostate size in male rats in which prostatic hyperplasia had been induced by TE.

Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reduces spermatogenic damage induced by a single dose of malathion in mice

Aim: To observe the effect of the aqueous extract of hypocotyls of the plant Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on spermato-genic damage induced by the organophosphate insecticide malathion in mice. Methods: Mice were treated with 80 mg kg^(-1) of malathion in the presence or absence of an aqueous extract of Maca, which was orally administered 7, 14 or 21 days after injection of the malathion. Stages of the seminiferous epithelium were assessed by transillumination on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. Results: The administration of Maca increased significantly the length of stage 鈪?on days 7, 14 and 21 of treatment compared with the controls. An increase in the length of stage 鈪?occurred on day 14 of treatment. Malathion affected spermatogenesis by reducing the lengths of stage 鈪?on day 7, stages 鈪?and 鈪?鈪?on day 14 and a recovery of stages 鈪?鈪?on day 21. The magnitude of alteration in the length of stage 鈪?produced by malathion was significantly reduced by Maca on days 7 and 14. The length of stage 鈪?was increased when Maca was administered to mice treated with malathion. Assessment of the relative length of stages of the seminiferous epithelium showed that Maca treatment resulted in rapid recovery of the effect of malathion. Conclusion: Maca enhances spermatogenesis following spermatogenic damage caused by the organophosphorous pesticide.

Effect of alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on testicular function in male rats

Aim: To evaluate the effect of the alcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on the spermatogenesis in male rats. Methods: In Holtzman rats, Maca alcoholic extract (5%) was given by oral route at doses of 48 mg/day or 96 mg/day for 7 days, 14 days and 21 days. Testicular function was assessed by measurements of lengths of different stages of seminiferous epithelia and by epididymal sperm count. Results: Ethanolic extract of Maca increased the length of stages IX-XI of seminiferous epithelium at treatment day 7, day 14 and day 21. Progression of spermatogenesis was evident only after day 21 when lengths of stages XII-XIV of seminiferous epithelium were increased; at day 7 and day 14, no important change in spermatogenesis was observed. Epididymal sperm count was increased with 48 mg/day at all times. With 96 mg/day an increase in sperm count was observed at day 7, but it was reduced at day 14 and day 21 of treatment. Serum testosterone levels were not affected. Conclusion: The alcoholic extract of Maca activates onset ant progression of spermatogenesis at 48 mg/day or 96 mg/day in rats.

Antifertility Effects of Aqueous Roots Extract of <i>Alchornea cordifolia</i>(Euphorbiaceae) on Female Albino Rats

Aqueous roots extract of Alchornea cordifolia was studied to evaluate its traditional antifertility claim. Antifertility effect of Alchornea cordifolia was evaluated according to the stages of pregnancy of female rats. In the first stage, forty female rats were randomly divided into four groups (10 rats/group) and respectively treated with 1 ml distilled water (control), 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day of Alchornea cordifolia. After laparotomy and at parturition, sites of implantation and resorption on the uterine horns were determined. The ovaries and uterus were collected and weighed. Blood samples were collected for hormonal assay. In the second and third stage of pregnancy, treatment schedule and antifertility parameters were assessed as above for the first stage. Treated groups received daily 400 mg/kg bw of extract of Alchornea cordifolia while Control group received distilled water. It was observed in the first stage of pregnancy that, the number of resorption sites significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at 100 and 200 mg/kg. No implantation site was observed at dose 400 mg/kg after laparotomy as well as the number of pups at parturition at all doses. The body weight of ovaries and uterine horns at dose 400 mg/kg significantly (p < 0.05) decreased when compared to the control. The extract dose dependently decreased significantly the concentrations of serum progesterone. In the second stage of pregnancy after laparotomy and at parturition, the number of live fetus and the survival ratio significantly (p < 0.001) decreased and were associated with the vaginal discharge and bleeding of animals. In the third stage of pregnancy, the extract caused an early parturition associated with a decreased number of live fetus and the survival ratio with p The results indicate that aqueous roots extract of Alchornea cordifolia could induce inhibitory effects on reproductive functions in female albino rats.

秘鲁高海拔地区的新生儿体重

Objective:To determine whether birth weights are lower at high altitudes,and whether gestational age at birth and a population’s length of residence mitigate the effect of high altitude. Methods:The birth weights of 84,173 neonates recorded in the Peruvian Perinatal Information SystemDatabase were analyzed between 1995 and 2002 for the cities of Lima (150 m),Huancayo (3280 m),Cuzco (3400 m),and Juliaca (3800 m). Results:Birth weight was lower at high altitude,but there was no linear relation between altitude of residence and birth weight. Mean birth weight was higher in Juliaca than in Huancayo. There were no significant differences between the 4 cities regarding birth weights of infants born between 28 and 35 weeks of gestation. However,for infants born between 36 and 42 weeks,birth weight was lower at higher altitudes. This may be due to inadequate maternal oxygenation later in pregnancy at high altitude. In the multivariate analysis,after controlling for maternal age,marital status,parity,body mass index,pre-eclampsia or hemorrhage during pregnancy,and education,as well as sex of the newborn and gestational age at birth,birth weightwas lower in all cities located at a higher altitude than Lima. Yet,longer residence at high altitudes may play a protective role. Juliaca (3800 m),where the population has resided the longest,had the lowest reduction in birth weight compared with Lima (150 m); Cuzco had intermediate values; and Huancayo (3280 m),where the population has resided the shortest,had the highest reduction in birth weight. Conclusions:Birth weight reduction,which is independent of socioeconomic factors,occurs only in births at term and may be less severe in populations that have resided longer at high altitudes.