Male Reproductive Endocrine-Immunology - Open discussion (Dec/11/2006 )
Hello,
I want to start a discussion about Male Reproductive Endocrine-Immunology. I am interested on those three fields and I am trying to bundle them into one field. It will be a Male Reproductive Biology viewed from Endocrinology and Immunology.
My current research is about to study mechanism of a substance that is believed as a potent aphrodisiac, whether it works via pituitary to secrete ICSH or directly affects Leydig cells to secrete testosterone.
So far, my parameters are so simple and still in histological approach due tue the limited fund and poor lab where I work. I will measure the hormone level directly using RIA technique, weigh testis and sex accessory glands, and stain testis and pituitary to analyaze the activity of Leydig cells and beta cells, respectively.
I need advices or suggestion for my parameters. I need something better but not too expensive. Here I also offer a cooperative research for people who are interested on this topic. Thank you.
As far as I know, RIA is very sensitive but a bit dangerous, isn´t it? 
Yeah, it is harmful because contains radioactive I^125, which is used to label testosterone. Therefore, care should be taken during the assessment, both laboratory and self safety
