scholarly journals Impact of Moriamin Forte on Testicular and Epididymal Damage in Rats with Oligoasthenospermia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Xing Zhou ◽  
Guo-Wei Zhang ◽  
Wei-Ning Liang ◽  
Yi-Ze Li ◽  
Song Xu ◽  
...  

To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of Moriamin Forte (MF) on oligoasthenospermia (OA) in rats exposed to multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW), forty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Rats in the control group were treated with 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The remaining rats were administered GTW (30 mg/kg/d) for 40 d to establish an OA model. Concurrently, the groups were treated with normal saline and low-dose (100 mg/kg/d) and high-dose (200 mg/kg/d) MF, respectively. After treatment, the number and motility of sperm cells were examined. Testicular and epididymal histomorphology changes were observed. Antioxidant indicators (SOD, CAT, MDA, TAC, and Nrf2) in testicular and epididymal tissues were detected. Apoptotic and antiapoptotic indicators (Bax and Bcl2 expression) in the testicular tissue were measured by immunohistochemistry. GTW decreased sperm count and motility, damaged testicular and epididymis tissues, impaired antioxidase activity, and increased tissue MDA levels. Meanwhile, GTW upregulated the expression of Bax and downregulated the expression of Bcl2. Western blot analysis demonstrated a decrease in the Nrf2 expression in the model group. Treatment with MF improved sperm count and motility, as well as inhibited the rate of apoptosis in the rat reproductive system. Moreover, MF improved the activity of antioxidants and increased the relative expression of the antioxidant pathway-related protein Nrf2. In conclusion, MF may reverse the GTW-induced OA by modulating the expression of apoptotic and antioxidant pathway-related proteins. This study may provide a pharmacological foundation for the use of MF in OA treatment.

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Henrich ◽  
B. M. Ryan ◽  
R. Selby ◽  
S. Garthwaite ◽  
R. Morrissey ◽  
...  

Fyrolflex resorcinol bis-diphenylphosphate (RDP) was evaluated in a two-generation reproductive study as part of a program to assess the overall toxicology of this flame retardant. RDP was administered to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats in the diet at concentrations of 1000, 10,000 or 20,000 ppm. The control group was given diet alone. Parental (P1) animals were treated for 10 weeks prior to mating, during the 2-week mating period, throughout gestation, and through lactation until sacrifice. The F1 generation (P1 offspring) was treated following a regimen similar to P1. The F2 generation was not treated. No significant difference in Utter survival was observed between the control and treated groups. Body weights were significantly decreased in P1 rats during the 1st week due to an initial flavor aversion of the test substance in the diet. Body weight, weight gains, and food consumption were decreased in the test substance-treated pups (F1) during lactationand after weaning. These changes were also attributed to a flavor aversion. Anogenital distance was similar in the control and high-dose groups, whereas vaginal opening and preputial separation were delayed in the 10,000 and 20,000 ppm groups, and were considered to be secondary to the reduction in F1 body weight. Neither parents nor offspring exhibited any test substance-related clinical signs of toxicity. Vaginal cytology and cyclicity and male reproductive functions (sperm count, motility, and morphology) were unaffected by treatment. Mating performance was similar in the treated groups relative to the control. No treatment-related lesions were noted in the reproductive organs. Increased liver weight and associated hepatic periportal hypertrophy were observed in the RDP-treated animals (P1 and F1). In conclusion, there were no adverse effects on reproductive performance or fertility parameters associated with RDP administration in the diet. Fyrolflex RDP administered for greater than 13 weeks and up to the entire life span (i.e., F1, from conception to euthanasia) resulted in increased liver weights with associated periportal hypertrophy. This change was considered an adaptive process associated with RDP metabolism in the liver.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Chongjie Yao ◽  
Chen Zhao ◽  
Shuyan Zhang ◽  
Shimin Liu

Analysis of androgen secretion and sperm production was conducted in the testis to investigate the efficacy of moxibustion on testicular function in aging rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the aging group (N = 8), the mild-warm moxibustion group (N = 8), and the youth control group (N = 8). Rats in the mild-warm moxibustion group (MWMG) were exposed to mild-warm moxibustion at the Zusanli (ST36) and Shenshu (BL23) acupuncture points daily, from the age of 12 months until the age of 24 months. After the intervention, testicular tissue was harvested from all rats across groups. Changes in testicular structure were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Detection of the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was performed by the TUNEL assay. Testosterone level in the testis was analyzed by the ELISA assay, and the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and androgen receptor (AR) in the testis was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. AR expression analysis was subsequently performed by the western blotting assay, and the detection of telomerase activity of the testis and the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and AR mRNA were performed by real-time PCR. Compared with the youth controls, telomerase activity in the testis, testosterone levels, expression of AR, and expression of antiapoptosis factor Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the aging group. Spermatogenic cell apoptosis (P<0.01) and proapoptotic factor Bax expression were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the aging rats compared with the youth control group. The MWMG exhibited significant increases in testicular telomerase activity, testosterone level, AR expression, and antiapoptosis factor Bcl-2 expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01) compared with the aging group. In this experimental group, spermatogenic apoptosis was inhibited (P<0.01) and proapoptotic factor Bax expression significantly reduced (P<0.01). Mild-warm moxibustion can inhibit reproductive senescence by improving telomerase activity, improving AR expression, restoring testosterone, and inhibiting spermatogenic apoptosis via regulation of Bcl-2/Bax.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 786-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minfen Yan ◽  
Gaoren Zhong ◽  
Linfeng Gao ◽  
Xiqiao Xia ◽  
Lihua Wang ◽  
...  

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of depleted uranium (DU) on 1α-hydroxylase in the kidney of rats and to delinerate the mechanism of damage to kidneys and bones by DU. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were surgically implanted with DU fragments at three dose levels (0.1 g, 0.2 g and 0.3 g). After 3, 6 or 12 months, the concentration of 1α,25(OH)2D3 in the kidney was measured by radioimmunoassay. The activity of 1α-hydroxylase was shown by the production of 1α,25(OH)2D3 after incubation. The results showed that the 1α-hydroxylase activity in the kidney was decreased after 3 months (27.2% at the medium dose DU group, p < 0.05; 33.4% at the high dose DU group, p < 0.01). In contrast, at 6 months and 12 months after implantation of DU, the activity of renal 1α-hydroxylase in DU-treated animals was not decreased significantly in comparison with the controls (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the activity of renal 1α-hydroxylase was decreased by 33.1% (p < 0.05) and 34.4% (p < 0.01) in blank control groups at 6 and 12 months, respectively, when compared with the blank control group at 3 months. In conclusion, this study showed that chronic DU exposure could induce renal damages and inhibit the synthesis of biologically active form of vitamin D, which may be the underlying mechanism of bone metabolic disorder caused by renal injury after DU exposure.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (05) ◽  
pp. 849-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Chang ◽  
Kee-Ching Jeng ◽  
Kuei-Fen Huang ◽  
Ying-Chung Lee ◽  
Chien-Wei Hou ◽  
...  

Cordyceps species have been traditionally used as for the enhancement of sexual function, but its direct evidence is lacking. We investigated the spermatogenic effect of Cordyceps militaris (CM) as supplementation with CM mycelium to 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Ninety rats (30 for each group) were selected to regular diet or diet supplemented with CM mycelium (1% and 5%) for 6 weeks. Epididymal sperm were collected from 6 animals per group at each interval of observation. They were allowed to recover for one week. The quality and quantity of sperm were compared in these rats. The CM supplementation resulted in an increase of serum cordycepin concentration ( n = 6, each group) that correlated with treatment time and the cordycepin level was significantly higher ( p < 0.05) in 5% group as compared to 1% group at the 5th and 6th week. Epididymal sperm count was enhanced significantly from the control, at the 5th week and peaked at the 6th week in both groups supplemented with CM (each time point, n = 6; p < 0.05) and maintained for 2 weeks after stopping the treatment. Increased serum testosterone and estradiol-17 (E2) concentrations were found in rats with the CM supplementation ( p < 0.05), but not other hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) or prolactin. Importantly, percentages of motile sperm cells were also enhanced significantly ( p < 0.05) paralleled the serum testosterone pattern from the supplement groups as compared to the control group. Taken together, these results indicate that supplementation with CM improves sperm quality and quantity in rats.


Author(s):  
O. H. Ayoade ◽  
G. G. Akunna ◽  
F. I. Duru

This study evaluated camphora-induced androgenic and histopathological changes in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Thirty-five animals weighing 200 g±20 g were used for this study and randomly divided equally into five groups, with seven rats in each group. Group A animals (normal control group) were served water and rat chow only; Groups B-D (treatment groups) were orally administered camphora in doses of 1 g/kg (Low-dose), 2 g/kg (Medium-dose) and 4 g/kg (High-dose) respectively while Group E (vehicle group) were orally administered 6 mL/kg olive oil (a solvent for camphora) per day for 56 days. There was a significant decrease (P< .05) in activity levels of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH); Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) when the treatment was compared with the control group. Also, a significant decrease (P< .05) in activity level of FSH was observed when the Medium-dose group was compared with Low-dose group. Insignificant irregular pattern in activity level of Testosterone was observed across the treatment groups when compared with the control. However, a significant increase (P< .05) in activity level of Testosterone was observed when the High-dose group was compared with the Medium-dose group. There was a significant increase (P< .05) in activity levels of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) when the treatment was compared with the control group. Semen analysis showed reduction in sperm concentration, motility and morphology with increasing concentration of camphora. Significant decrease was recorded in testicular weight when High-dose group was compared to Control and Low-dose groups. Histopathological changes were seen in the testes of the camphor administered groups, ranging from mild disintegrated interstitial tissues in Low-dose to severe degeneration and disintegration of both seminiferous and interstitial tissues in the testes in the Medium-dose and High-dose groups. In conclusion, camphora had androgenic and toxic effects on testis and may cause testicular tissue damage.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dai Yan-Ping ◽  
Gao Xiao-Qin ◽  
Ma Xiao Ping ◽  
Yue Ying Quan

Objective. To study the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 at protein level in the epididymis of rats with arsenism. Methods. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: the high dose arsenic infected group (60.0 mg/L in water), the middle dose arsenic infected group (12.0 mg/L in water), the low dose arsenic infected group (2.4 mg/L in water), and the control group (distilled water). Rats were treated with arsenic through drinking water for 6 consecutive months. At the end of the experiment, the average densitometry values of apoptotic cells in epididymis tubules were determined by TUNEL method; the protein and mRNA levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 were observed by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real time fluorescent quantitative PCR, respectively. Results. Compared with the control group, in each infected group, the average densitometry values of apoptotic cells in the epididymis tubules were significantly lower. Compared with control group, protein and mRNA levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 in each infected group were obviously declined. The correlations between protein and mRNA levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 were positively exhibited (r = 0.843, 0.869, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Arsenism affects the expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2 in the epididymis of rats and results in apoptosis of pathophysiology of male infertility.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ahmed Nabil ◽  
Mohamed M. Elshemy ◽  
Medhat Asem ◽  
Heba F. Gomaa

Mercury is a global environmental pollutant, accumulating mainly in the kidney and liver inducing hepatorenal toxicity, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between free radicals’ production and cellular antioxidant defense systems. In the present study, we investigated the effect of N N′-diphenyl-1, 4-phenylenediamine (DPPD) antioxidant activity against mercury chloride- (HgCl2-) induced renal and hepatic toxicity. Thirty adult female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups: the first group was injected with saline only and served as a control, the second group was injected with HgCl2, and the third group received DPPD + HgCl2 rats injected with HgCl2 without treatment showing a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, and uric acids compared to control. Moreover, the second group showed a significant reduction in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH)) in addition to a marked increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, histopathological alterations, collagen deposition, CD8%, CD4%, and TGF-β% in kidney and liver tissues compared with the control group. Treatment with DPPD showed significant recovery (p≤0.001) in all previous parameters and histopathological examination. In conclusion, we suggested that DPPD may have a promising antioxidant capacity, gives it the applicability to be used as a prophylactic agent against mercury-induced hepatorenal cytotoxicity in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 205873922093566
Author(s):  
Liqin Wei ◽  
Jitao Wu ◽  
Danxia Li ◽  
Zhengfei Shan

Ketamine abusing is associated with ulcerative cystitis, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the existence of ketamine-induced symptom in a rat model and evaluate the underlining mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen and randomly divided into 12 groups (n = 8), such as the control group, low dose of ketamine (10 mg/kg/day), middle dose of ketamine (30 mg/kg/day) and high dose of ketamine (50 mg/kg/day) groups. The experimental groups were administrated ketamine i.p. daily, whereas the control groups were administrated with saline. After 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment, the bladder tissues were collected. Haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and a transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were used to evaluate the bladder epithelium pathology and urothelial apoptosis, respectively. The protein expression levels of LC3, p62, Beclin1 were assessed by Western blotting. HE staining results of the experimental rats showed the bladder tissue denudation of the urothelial epithelium with edema and congestion compared with the control groups. TUNEL staining showed a significantly higher number of apoptotic cells in experimental groups than in the control groups. The protein LC3 and Beclin1 had significantly higher levels compared with control groups. The protein p62 had lower levels compared with control groups. The expression levels correlated with contraction of ketamine and treatment time. HE staining, TUNEL staining and Western blot results showed dose-dependent, time-dependent autophage in ketamine-treated rats. All the results suggested that autophagy proteins might be involved in inflammatory response in rats.


1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 223-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
James T. Christmas ◽  
Bertis B. Little ◽  
Kraig A. Knoll ◽  
Roger E. Bawdon ◽  
Larry C. Gilstrap III

Objective: The purpose of the present investigation was to analyze the effets of zidovudine on the postimplantation embryo and fetus.Methods: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given various doses (10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg) of zidovudine or saline by an endotracheal tube during the period of embryogenesis (days 6–8, 9–11, 6–11 postconception). The animals were sacrificed on days 18–19 of pregnancy, and their fetuses were removed by hysterotomy. Autopsies under low (15×) and high (40×) power light microscopy were performed on all fetuses.Results: There was no statistically significant difference among the groups with respect to maternal weight gain. There were more pregnancy resorptions in the group receiving high-dose zidovudine (150 mg/kg/day) throughout embryogenesis than in the control group (P = 0.001, respectively). Four major structural anomalies were noted among the 689 fetuses examined, but zidovudine was not associated with an increased frequency of congenital anomalies in rats when it was administered in doses similar to, 3-, and 15-fold higher than the regimen recommended for adult humans. The drug, however, was embryocidal in the high-dose group (P = 0.002).Conclusions: These findings are consistent with previous studies of preimplantation mouse embryos that demonstrated an embryocidal effect on preimplantation conceptuses. In summary, post-implantation embryonic zidovudine exposure was associated with significantly increased pregnancy losses (resorptions and intrauterine deaths).


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hashemnia ◽  
Farid Rezaei ◽  
Zahra Nikousefat ◽  
Maral Bahiraei

Melissa officinalis is a plant that has been widely used as an herbal medicine in many countries. Unfortunately, despite the prevalent medicinal uses of the plant, there are no reports on the possible toxic effects of M. officinalis. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of long-term administration of hydro-alcoholic extract of M. officinalis on some biochemical and hematological parameters and histopathology of organs. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to three equal groups. The animals in groups A and B received 600 and 1200 mg/kg M. officinalis extract, respectively, for 30 days. The rats in group C were given gavaged saline as control. The animals were euthanized at the end of experiment and the blood samples were collected for biochemical and hematology analysis. Additionally, appropriate tissue samples were collected from kidney, liver, spleen, heart and lung for light microscopic examination. M. officinalis caused a significant increase in the alanine aminotransferase level in the treated rats. Although the increase in creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were observed in group A and B, respectively, but there were no significant differences. A significant decrease was observed in the total protein and albumin concentrations in serum of treated rats as compared to the control group. The creatinine concentrations were significantly higher in the group B when compared to the other groups. There were no significant differences in cholesterol, triglyceride and urea concentrations between all groups of rats. The main histopathologic findings in the liver were included hepatocyte degeneration, congestion and dilation of sinusoids, proliferation of bile ducts and infiltration of mononuclear cells around the portal area. Histopathologic examination of the kidneys showed a tubular degeneration and necrosis, tubular and glomerular atrophy and congestion. These lesions were more prominent in the high dose treated rats. The findings suggest that long-term administration of M. officinalis extract even at low doses induces hepatic and renal lesions in rats.


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