Summary
We performed thymectomy on the immature and mature male mice and made a quantitative assay of various germ cells of the seminiferous epithelium in the testis with Image Analyser System 35 days following thymectomy. The results indicated that as compared with the control group, all germ cells of the spermatogenesis lineage decreased in the immature group and in the mature group after thymectomy. The present study showed that thymus and its hormone stimulated not only the mitotic division, but also the meiotic division of germ cells during spermatogenesis, suggesting that thymus-sexual axis may play an important role in the process of spermatogensis in the testis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Grosmann C J, Interaction between the gonadal steroids and the immune. Science, 1985; 227: 257
Ignat’eva E V, Chesnokova V M, Iunker V Met al. Effect of thymosin (fraction 5) on the development of functional activity of the a-drenalsand gonads in genetically athymic mice. Probl Endocrinol MOSK, 1988; 34: 83
Naz R K, Naylor P H, Goldstein A L, Thymosin01 level in human seminal plasma and follicular fluid; implication in germ cell function. Int JFertil, 1987; 32: 375
Pedernera E, Diaz Osuna J, Calcagno M A, Thymus factor influence the in vitro testosterone secretion of Leydig cells in the rat. Life Science, 1986; 38: 779
Chesnokova V M, Grutenko E V, Ivanova L Net al. Evidence for thymus involvement in development of adrenal and gonadal endocrine functions in mice. Endocrinol EXP, 1987; 21: 133
Naz R K, Kaplan P, Glodstein A L, Thymosin01 enhances the fertilizing. Capacity of human sperm cell: implication in diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Biol Reprod, 1992; 47: 1064
Zeng J, Zhang Y S, Zhuang Q Y, Effect of thymosin on the secretion of the sexual hormone in rats with experimentalvaricocele. J Tongji Med Uni, 1993; 13: 40
Hall N R, O’Grady M P, Menzies R, Thymic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadalaxis. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1992; 14: 353
Chesnokova V M, Ignat’eva E V, Ivanova L N, Effect of thymosin (fraction 5) on the endocrine function of the testis in mice. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1988; 106: 493
Rebar R, Morandini I C, Petze M,et al. Hormonal basis of reproductive defects in athymic mice: reduced gonadotropins and testosterone in males. Biol Reprod, 1982; 27: 1267
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jin, Z., Yong-shang, Z., Pomer, S. et al. The influence of thymectomy on Germ-cells of the testis in mice. Journal of Tongji Medical University 15, 112–116 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02887914
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02887914