Epididymal sperm maturation occurs via interactions between sperm and proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelium. Although this is an important process, the genes that encode the involved proteins remain largely uncharacterized. Previous studies have demonstrated that the genes involved in sperm maturation are regulated by androgen. Spag11a is an epididymal gene that is influenced by androgen. However, little is known about the putative role of this gene in the sperm maturation process. The objective of this study was to characterize Spag11a in the mouse epididymis.

Context: Excessive swimming can reduce the ability of hippocampus cells and memory function. When hippocampus volume is lost in late adulthood, aerobic exercise can help recover it. This improvement in memory performance is beneficial, but excessive aerobic exercise can harm the hippocampal structure. Vitis gracilis Wall. is a traditional medicinal plant of North Sumatra's Karo people that works well as a stamina booster. Aims: To analyze apoptosis via cytochrome c in serum and brain tissue (hippocampal cells) after oral administration of V. garcilis. Methods: Six treatments were given to rats that were given excessive physical exercise consisting of G-: negative control; G+: Swim rats; G.Vit.C: Swim rats +Vitamin C 0.02 mg/kg BW; G100: Swim rats + V. gracilis 100/kg, G125; Swim rats + V. gracilis 125 mg/kg; G150: Swim rats + V. gracilis 150 mg/kg. Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and Tunel Assay were used to assess study parameters. Results: There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the expression of cytochrome c and apoptotic neurons in the hippocampus. Administration of V. gracilis could balance superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The higher dose of V. gracilis induced higher SOD levels and lower MDA levels. Conclusions: V. gracilis can improve the histology of brain and hippocampus cells due to physical exercise and reduce cell apoptosis via cytochrome c.

The percentage of infertility cases in this world is about 50%. Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are widely used in traditional medicine. Several studies suggest that seahorses have ethnopharmacological characteristics, such as fertility, antioxidants, and antifatigue. The purpose of this study was to determine whether seahorse extract (SE) (Hippocampus comes L.) has an effect on fertility and serum biochemistry in rats induced by depo medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). All animals were induced with 1.25 mg/kg BW of DMPA. Animals were grouped into five groups: namely aquadest, 1% CMC, and SE doses of 150, 225, and 300 mg/kg BW. The rats were gavage every morning from week 7 until 18. At the end of our study, semen from the vas deferens and blood from the heart were analyzed. We analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni’s post hoc tests (α 95%). The concentration of spermatozoa had a significant difference in dose of 150 mg/kg BW compared to other groups (p = 0.04). In contrast, the motility (p = 0.012) and viability of spermatozoa (p = 0.007) were highly significant differences (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) at 300 mg/kg BW. Testosterone levels were not significantly (p = 0.162; p > 0.05), but tended to increase at 300 mg/kg BW (11.01%). Nevertheless, serum biochemistry was insignificant (p > 0.05) in all groups. SE (Hippocampus comes L.) ameliorates fertility and serum biochemistry in rats induced by DMPA.

Epstein–Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 is useful as therapeutic efficacy marker in serum but not in saliva of nasopharyngeal cancer patients who underwent radio

Spermatogenesis is a tightly regulated developmental process of male germ cells. The stages in spermatogenesis are mitosis, meiosis and spermiogenesis. One of the genes playing a role in meiosis is Cell Division Cycle 25A (CDC25A). Decreased expression of CDC25A is associated with failure of spermatogenesis and sperm retrieval. Infertility examination for azoospermia has been limited on histological examination. Hence, molecular research to find marker genes for infertility will improve the examination of testis biopsies. This research is a cross sectional study of 50 testicular biopsies with Johnsen scoring categories from scoring 2 to 8. Analysis of mRNA expression used qPCR and protein expression using immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis with Spearman correlation was considered significant at p<0.05. The result showed that transcript level and protein expression of CDC25A decreased in score 5 of Johnsen scoring categories. Moderate Spearman rho correlation (r=0.546) between mRNA relative expression and protein expression of CDC25A was significant at p<0.01. Decreased expression of CDC25A is associated with meiotic arrest as the etiology of spermatogenic failure in many azoospermic men.