Journal of Andrology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Yeung, C. H.
Right arrow Articles by Cooper, T. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Yeung, C. H.
Right arrow Articles by Cooper, T. G.

Journal of Andrology, Vol 20, Issue 1 72-79, Copyright © 1999 by The American Society of Andrology

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effect of acute androgen withdrawal by GnRH antagonist on epididymal sperm motility and morphology in the cynomolgus monkey

C. H. Yeung, G. F. Weinbauer and T. G. Cooper
Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University, Munster, Germany.

Hormonal male contraception requires an induction phase before azoospermia and contraceptive safety are achieved. The nature of spermatozoa that may be ejaculated during this induction phase was studied in a nonhuman primate. The GnRH antagonist Cetrorelix was administered daily to five cynomolgus monkeys to induce testicular regression, and the vehicle was given to five control animals. Within 16 days, the antagonist reduced androgens by 80% in the serum and by 50% in the epididymis. Sperm were obtained by mincing different epididymal regions and were examined for morphology (subjectively) and motility (objectively) after removal of the organs 16 and 25 days after continuous treatment. Spermatozoa entering the epididymis of monkeys undergoing regression differed from those of vehicle-treated controls in their greater susceptibility to disruption during preparation for morphological staining. The acquisition of motility by sperm in the epididymides attached to regressing testes occurred in the same epididymal region as controls but did not achieve the median velocities attained by sperm in controls during epididymal passage. Values for most sperm motion parameters developed as in the controls, and, during epididymal passage, sperm developed resistance to stresses encountered during preparation for morphological analysis. These observations suggest that spermatozoa ejaculated before spermatogenesis ceases may be potentially fertilizing because epididymal maturation continues in an androgen-deprived organ. From these preclinical studies, it can be concluded that in men, applying hormonal contraception precautions against pregnancy must be recommended before azoospermia is induced, since the epididymis can partially compensate for poor-quality sperm produced by a regressing testis even when levels of circulating androgens and tissue androgens are low.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
S. Seenundun and B. Robaire
Time-Dependent Rescue of Gene Expression by Androgens in the Mouse Proximal Caput Epididymidis-1 Cell Line after Androgen Withdrawal
Endocrinology, January 1, 2007; 148(1): 173 - 188.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1999 by The American Society of Andrology.