Korean Journal of Veterinary Research (대한수의학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Science (대한수의학회)
권호 표지

Morphometric Studies on the Testis Interstitium of Korean Ring-Necked Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus karpowi) during the Breeding and Nonbreeding Seasons

번식기와 비번식기의 한국산 꿩 고환간질조직의 형태계측학적 연구

  • Kim, In-Shik (Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University)
  • 김인식 (전북대학교 수의과대학 해부학교실)
  • Accepted : 2002.08.29
  • Published : 2002.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The purpose of this morphometric study was to obtain detailed quantitative information on all cell types in the testis interstitium of Korean ring-necked pheasants combined with data on changes in the steroidogenic function of the testis during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Animals collected during the breeding season, testis weights, sperm production, serum testosterone levels, leuteinizing hormone-stimulated testosterone secretion, and the length of the seminiferous tubules were significantly (p < 0.05) increased as compared to the nonbreeding season. Seminiferous tubules occupied 93.25% of testis volume in the breeding season. Leydig cells constituted 0.82% of the testicular volume. The mean volume of an Leydig cell was $1039{\mu}m^3$, and each testis contained about 24.53 million Leydig cells. Testes of the pheasants during the nonbreeding season displayed a 98% reduction in testis volume that was associated with a decrease in the absolute volume of seminiferous tubules (98% reduction), tubular lumen(100%), interstitium(90%), blood vessels(84%), lymphatic spaces(97%), Leydig cells(79%), mesenchymal cells(51%), and myoid cells(61%). The number of Leydig cells, mesenchymal cells, myoid cells per testis in the breeding season was higher (p < 0.05) than in the nonbreeding season. Although the average volume of a Leydig cell was 74% lower in the nonbreeding season, the average volume of a myoid and mesenchymal cell remained unchanged. These results demonstrate that there are a striking differences in the testicular structure of the Korean ring-necked pheasant in the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Every structural parameter of the Leydig cell was pasitively correlated with both serum and LH-stimulated secretion concentrations of testosterone. Correlation of changes in hormonal status with morphometric alterations of all Leydig cell suggests that the Korean-ring necked pheasant may be used as a model to study structure-function relations in the avian testis.

Keywords

References

  1. Russel LD, de Franca LR. Building a testis. Tissue Cell, 27:127-147, 1995
  2. Mendis-Handagama SMLC, Zirkin BR, Ewing LL. Comparison of components of the testis interstitium with testosterone secretion in hamster, rat, and guinea pig testes perfused in vitro. Am J Anat, 181:12-22, 1988
  3. Rey RA, Nagle CA, Chemes H. Morphometric study of the testicular interstitial tissue of the monkey Cebus apella during postnatal development. Tissue Cell, 28: 31-42, 1996
  4. Ariyaratne HBS, Chamindrani Mendis-Handagama SML. Changes in the testis interstitium of sprague dawley rats from birth to sexual maturity. Biol Reprod, 62: 680-690, 2000
  5. Ewing LL., Zirkin BR. Leydig cell structure and steroidogenic function. Recent Prog Horm Res, 39:599-632, 1983
  6. Ewing LL, Wing TY, Cochran RC, BR Zirkin. Effect of lutenizing hormone on Leydig cell structure and testosterone secretion. Endocrinology, 112:1763-1769, 1983
  7. Follett BK. Photoperiodism and seasonal breeding in birds and mammals, In Crightan CB, Haynes NB, Lamming GE, eds. Butterswoths, London: 267-293, 1978
  8. Lincoln GA(1981): Seasonal aspects of testicular function, In Burger H, de Krester HD eds. Raven Press, New York: 255-302, 1981
  9. Neaves WB. Changes in testicular Leydig cells and in plasma testosterone levels among seasonally breeding rock hydrax. Biol Reprod, 8:451-466, 1973
  10. Sinha-Hikim AP, Bartke A, Russell LD. Marphometric studies on hamster testes in gonadally active and inactive states: Light microscope findings. Biol Reprod, 39: 1225-1237, 1988
  11. Hochereau-de Reviers MT, Lincoln GA. Seasonal variation in the histology of the testis of the red dear, Cervus elaphus. J Reprod Fertil, 54:209-213, 1978
  12. Bluhm CK, Schwabl H, Schwabl A, et al. Variation in hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone content, plasma and pituitary LH, and in-vitro testosterone release in a long-distance migratory bird, the garden warbler (Sylia borin), under constant photoperiods. J Endocrinol, 128:339-345, 1991
  13. Sharp PJ, Massa R, Bottoni L, et al. Photoperiodic and endocrine concol of seasonal breeding in grey partridge (Perdix perdix). J Zoo, 209:187-200, 1986
  14. Williams TD. Reproductive endocrinology of macaioni (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins. Gen Comp Endocrinol, 85:230-240, 1992
  15. Donham RS. Annual cycles of plasma LH and sex hormones in male and female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Biol Reprod, 21:1273-1285, 1979
  16. Degen AA, Weil S, Rosenstrauch A, et al. Seasonal plasma levels of luteinizing and steroid hormones in male and female domestic ostriches (Struthio comelus). Gen Comp Endocrinol, 93:21-27, 1994
  17. Dittami JP. Seasonal changes in the behavior and plasma titers of various hormones in barheaded geese. Anser Indicus Z. Tierpsychol, 55:289-324, 1981
  18. Fraissinet M, Varriale B, Pierantoni R, et al. Annual testicular activity in the gray partridge (Perdix Perdix L). Gen Comp Endocrinol, 68:28-32, 1987
  19. Sakai H, Ishii S. Annual cycles of plasma gonadotropins and sex steroids in Japanese common pheasants, Phasianus colchicus versicolor. Gen Comp Endocrinol, 63:275-283, 1986
  20. Kim IS, Yang HH. Seasonal changes of testicular weight, sperm production, serum testosterone, and in vitro testosterone release in Korean ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus karpowi). J Vet Med Sci, 63(2): 151-156, 2001
  21. Kim IS. Effects of exposure of lactating female rats to polychroninated biphenyls (PCBs) on testis weight, sperm pioduction and Sertoli cell numbers in the adult male offspring. J Vet Med Sci, 63(1) : 5-9, 2001
  22. Kim IS, Ariyaratne HBS and Mendis-Handagama SMLC. Effects of continuous and intermittent exposure of lactating mothers to Aroclor 1242 on testicular steroidogenic function in the adult male offspring. Tissue Cell, 33 : 169-177, 2001
  23. Kim IS, Ariyaratne HBS, Msndis-Handagama SMLC. Changes in the testis interstitium of Brown Norway rats with aging and effects of luteinizing and thyroid harmones on the aged testes in enhancing the steroidogenic potential. Biol Reprod, 66(5):1359-1366, 2002
  24. Weibel ER. Stereological principles for morphometry in electron microscopic cytology. Int Rev Cytol, 26:235-301, 1969
  25. Mendis-Handagama SMLC, Ewing LL Sources of error in the estimation of Leydig cell numbers in control and atrophied mammalian testes. J Microsc, 59:73-82, 1990
  26. Floderus S. Untersuchungdf uber den bau der menschlichen hypophyse mit besonderer berucksichtigung der quantitativen mikromorphologischen verhaltnisse. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand, 53:1-276, 1944
  27. Kirby JD, Mankar MV, Hardesty D, et al. Effects of transient prepubertal 6-N-ptopyl-2-thiouracil treatment on testis development and function in the domestic fowl. Biol Reprod, 55:910-916, 1996
  28. Ahmad H, Haltmeyer GC, Eik-Nes KB. Maintenance of spermatogenesis with testosterone or dihydrotestosterone in hypophysectomized rats. J Reprod Fertil, 44: 103-107, 1975
  29. Kerr JB, Donacchie K, Rammerts FFG. Selective destruction and regeneration of rat Leydig cells in vivo: a new method for the study of seminiferous tubularinterstitial tissue interaction. Cell Tissue Res, 242:145-156, 1985
  30. Jackson AE, O' Leary PC, Ayers MM, et al. The effects of ethylene dimethane sulphonate (EDS) on rat Leydig cells: evidence to support a connective tissue origin of Leydig cells. Biol Reprod, 35:425-437, 1986
  31. Malecki IA, Martin GB. O' Malley PJ, et al. Endocrine and testicular changes in a short-day seasonally breeding bird, the emu(Drornaius novaehollandiae), in southwestern Australia. Ani Reprod Sci, 53:143-155, 1998
  32. Johnson L, Thompson DL. Seasonal variation in the total volume of Leydig cells in stallions is explained by variation in cell number rather than cell size. Biol Reprod, 35:971-979, 1986
  33. Hochereau-de Reviers MT, Perreau C, Lincoln GA. Photoperiodic variations of somatic and germ cell populations in the Soy ram testis. J Reprod Fertil, 74: 329-334, 1985
  34. Aire TA. The structure of the interstitial tissue of the active and resting avian testis. J Vet Res, 64:291-299, 1997
  35. Short RV, Mann T. The sexual cycle of a seasonally breeding mammal, the roebuck (Capreolus capreolus). J Reprod Fertil, 12:337-351, 1966
  36. Pearson OP, Koford MR, Pearson AK. Reproduction of the lump-nosed bat (Carynorhinus rafinesquei) in California. J Mammol, 59:273-320, 1952
  37. Hardy MP, Zirkin BR, Ewing LL. Kinetics studies on the development of the adult population of Leydig cells in testes of the pubertal rat. Endocrinology, 12:762-770, 1989
  38. Bartke A, Amador AG, Chandrashekar V, et al. Seasonal differences in testicular receptors and steroidogenesis. J Steroid Biochem, 27:581-587, 1987
  39. Aoki A. Hormonal control of Leydig cell differentiation. Protoplasma, 71:209-225, 1970