BACKGROUND Sox9 (Sry box containing gene 9) is a DNA-binding transcription factor involved in chondrocyte development and sex determination. The protein's absence in testicular Sertoli nurse cells has been shown to disrupt testicular function in adults but little is known at the genome-wide level about molecular events concomitant with testicular break-down. METHODS To determine the genome-wi...

Testicular tumors and their treatment interfere with homeostasis, hormonal status included. The aim of the study was to evaluate hormonal disorders of the pituitary-gonadal axis in men treated for testicular tumors. One hundred twenty-eight men treated for a unilateral testicular tumor at our institution were included. The hormonal status was prospectively evaluated in 62 patients before orchie...

Platinum-based chemotherapies such as cisplatin are used as first-line treatment for many cancers. Although there is often a high initial responsiveness, the majority of patients eventually relapse with platinum-resistant disease. For example, a subset of testicular cancer patients still die even though testicular cancer is considered a paradigm of cisplatin-sensitive solid tumors, but the mech...

The immobilization stress induces an acute inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis that is mediated by the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway. Here we compared the effects of 2-h immobilization stress on in vivo and in vitro rat steroidogenesis at two time points, 0 h and 6 h after the end of the stress session. As expected, serum androgens and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated pr...

The effects of hypercholesterolaemia on testicular endocrine and exocrine function were evaluated. The influence of hypercholesterolaemia on sperm quality, quantity, and fertilizing potential was also determined. Ten mature rabbits (group A) were fed chow containing 3% cholesterol for 12 weeks. Ten control rabbits (group B) were fed normal chow for the same period. At the end of the experimenta...

PURPOSE Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) have a unique epigenetic profile distinct from that of other types of cancer. Elucidation of these properties has a potential to identify novel markers for TGCTs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We conducted comprehensive analysis of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) gene expression in TGCTs. Based on the expression profiles of DNMT genes in TGCTs, we generated a rab...

In the present study, controlled burns of 1 testis have induced the formation of testis-specific antibodies in Hartley guinea pigs. The antibodies reacted with autologous as well as homologous testicular extracts. In addition, pathological changes have been noted in the germinal components of the contralateral testis, which were similar to those observed after the induction of experimental al...