1. Severing the ventral funiculus in chronic spinal cord injury has the most deteriorating effect on spermatogenesis in rats.
- Author
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Kaddumi EG, Omoush SA, Shuqair DA, Abdel-Razaq W, Alkhateeb HH, and Kanaan RA
- Subjects
- Animals, Male, Organ Size physiology, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Spinal Cord drug effects, Testis pathology, Testis physiopathology, Testosterone pharmacology, Follicle Stimulating Hormone pharmacology, Spermatogenesis drug effects, Spinal Cord physiopathology, Spinal Cord Injuries physiopathology
- Abstract
Sexual dysfunction, following spinal cord injury (SCI), is highly dependent on the extent of injury. SCI disrupts the supraspinal innervation of the reproductive organs; resulting in structural and functional deficits. Relating the extent of SCI to these changes could eventually improve diagnoses and treatment planning of sexual dysfunction following SCI. In the present study, following chronic SCI of different severities (1/3 dorsal SCI (1/3 SCI), 2/3 dorsal SCI (2/3 SCI), and complete transection (Tx)) at T8 spinal level, histological changes of seminiferous tubules parameters in testis were examined. The diameter of seminiferous tubules (DST) and epithelial height of seminiferous tubules (HST) were significantly decreased in all SCI groups compared to control and sham. In addition, DST in 2/3 SCI and Tx groups and HST in Tx group were significantly decreased in comparison with 1/3 SCI animals. Nonetheless, the diameter of seminiferous tubules' lumen decreased significantly in 2/3 SCI and Tx compared to control, sham, and 1/3 SCI groups. Concerning cellular component, the number of spermatocytes and spermatids layers significantly decreased in both 1/3 and 2/3 SCI in comparison to normal. However, Tx had the most prominent deteriorating effect on these layers; indicating impairment in the process of spermatogenesis. These results show that the spinal tracts are part of the neural circuitries innervating the testis and responsible for their structural support. These tracts are mainly distributed between the lateral and ventral funiculi at T8 spinal level. Consequently, sparing ventral funiculi in the SCI prevents the severe decline in spermatogenesis., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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