gholamhossein farjah

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination of foods and animal feeds is a public health issue. Exposure to AFB1 induces oxidative stress and can cause male reproductive toxicity. Melatonin (MLT) is a neuro-hormone produced by the pineal gland and the testis and is known as a potent antioxidant.

This study aims to determine the protective effect of MLT on testicular tissue alterations, sperm parameter indexes, and in vitro fertility assays in mice treated with AFB1.

In this experimental study, 28 adult male NMRI mice (8-10 wk old, 25-27 gr) were divided randomly into 4 groups: control, MLT (20 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally), AFB1 (50 μg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) and MLT+AFB1. After 35 consecutive days, testis histological changes, sperm quality parameters, the rate of sperm with DNA damage, and in vitro fertilization outcomes up to the blastocyst stage were surveyed and compared between groups.

Our results showed that AFB1 administration induced histological alterations in the testis and significantly decreased all the sperm parameters and in vitro fertility (fertilization and blastocyst formation rates) compared to control. Additionally, the percentages of immature sperms and sperms with DNA damage significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the AFB1-treated group. MLT treatment in the MLT+AFB1 group significantly increased testis quality and sperm parameters and improved in vitro fertilizaton rate and in vitro embryonic development.

These findings demonstrated that MLT can compensate for the adverse effects of AFB1 on the quality of testicular tissue, sperm parameters, sperm DNA, and in vitro fertilization outcomes.

Although peripheral nerve injury is not life-threatening, it causes significant disability. Following these damages, ischemia and inflammatory processes occur, resulting in neurological dysfunction. Several medications have been explored to alleviate the symptoms of peripheral nerve injury.

This study aimed to investigate how crocin (CR) and azithromycin (AZ) affected sciatic nerve crush injuries in rats.

Five groups were established using 40 adult male rats: control, lesion, AZ, CR and AZ+CR. Except for the control group, sciatic nerve injury was surgically induced in the other groups. AZ and CR were administered alone or together to three treatment groups for seven days. Following the behavioral evaluations, sections of the sciatic nerve were stained for immunohistochemical, histological and morphometric assessment.

CR treatment’s efficacy was more pronounced than AZ’s (P≤0.001). CR was found to be less efficacious than combination therapy involving AZ and CR, as determined by sciatic functional index (P≤0.001), hot plate (P≤0.001), and immunohistochemical analysis (P≤0.001). In the remaining evaluations, no significant difference existed between the AZ+CR and CR groups (P> 0.05).

This study found that both AZ and CR significantly improved the recovery of sciatic nerve injuries in rats, with CR being more effective. The combination of AZ and CR showed even greater benefits in some assessments compared to CR alone, although no significant differences were observed in other evaluations. These findings suggest that CR is a promising treatment for peripheral nerve injury and that combination therapy may enhance certain aspects of recovery.

Gum arabic (GA) contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds and protects tissues.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of GA on the spinal cord’s motor neurons after ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury.

Thirty-five male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were randomly divided into five groups: Intact, sham surgery, control (4 mL/kg distilled water+I/R), low-dose gum arabic (GA 1 g/kg+I-R), and high-dose gum arabic (GA 4 g/kg+I-R). In the experimental groups, oral gavages’ treatment was performed for 21 days before surgery. Three days after I-R, the rats were evaluated for neurological function, biochemical, and histological analysis.

The mean motor deficit index (MDI) in the GA groups versus the control group was significantly lower (P<0.01). About 72 hours after I-R, the mean plasma level of superoxide dismutase and total anti-oxidant capacity in the GA 4 g/kg group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the plasma level of catalase between the GA 4 g/kg and the control groups (P<0.05). Approximately 67% of the motor neurons were destroyed in the control group, while this ratio was about 18% in the GA 4 g/kg group.

This study showed that GA (4 g/kg) protects the motor neurons of the spinal cord against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ultrasonic therapy is used locally to repair damaged peripheral nerves.

This study was designed to examine the effect of low-intensity remote ultrasound on peripheral nerve regeneration.

In the present study, 24 male rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham surgery (SS: No sciatic crush injury, no ultrasonic treatment, n=8), control (C: Sciatic crush injury, without ultrasonic treatment, n=8), and remote ultrasound (RU: Sciatic crush injury, ultrasonic treatment, n=8). To induce nerve crush, the sciatic nerve was clamped 1 cm above the bifurcation site for 30 seconds. In the RU group, the opposite leg was treated with low-intensity ultrasound for 10 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks (1.1 MHz frequency with an intensity of 0.5 W/cm2). Neurological evaluation was done by examining the sciatic nerve index (SFI) on days 7, 21, 28, 35, 49, and 56 after surgery. The samples were evaluated histologically, biochemically, and immunohistologically on days 28 and 56 after surgery.

The mean SFI, transverse diameter of muscle fibers, and the number of myelinated axons in the RU group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Also, the mean plasma levels of total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, and HSP70 in the control group differed from the RU group on days 28 and 56 after surgery (P<0.05).

The results of the present study show that low-intensity remote ultrasound has beneficial effects on the crushed sciatic nerve.

Oxidative stress is a major contributor to diabetes mellitus (DM), which leads to testicular damage and infertility.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of glibenclamide (GL) as a chemical medicine and troxerutin (TR) as an herbal agent on sperm parameters and histopathological changes of testis in diabetic male rats.

40 male Wistar rats (230-260 gr) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8/each), including control, diabetic (D), GL, TR, and GL+TR. DM was induced by the administration of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin intraperitoneally. The groups were treated with 5 mg/kg/day of GL or 150 mg/kg/day of TR via oral gavage for 4 wk. In the final stage of the treatment, blood sampling was done for biochemical analysis. The rats were then sacrificed and their left testis and epididymis were dissected for sperm analysis, histopathology, and morphometric assessment.

A significant decrease in the number, motility, viability, maturity and chromatin quality of sperm was found in diabetic rats compared to control group. (p < 0.001). DM also increased the malondialdehyde level and decreased the level of the serum’s total antioxidant capacity compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, we observed significant difference in seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height, and testicular histological abnormalities in diabetic rats compared to control group (p < 0.001). Administration of GL, TR and their combination improved the above-mentioned parameters, and treatment with TR provided a higher improvement (p < 0.001).

According to these findings, it can be concluded that TR plays a more influential role than GL to treat diabetic-induced infertility.

Oxidative stress is a major contributor to diabetes, which can lead to testicular damage and infertility.

This study aimed to compare the effects of metformin as a chemical drug with silymarin as an herbal agent on the sperm parameters and histopathological changes of testes in diabetic rats.

Thirty-two male Wistar rats (250-270 gr) were randomly divided into four groups: 1) control; 2) diabetic; 3) diabetic+metformin 200 mg/kg; and 4) diabetic+silymarin 100 mg/kg. Daily injections were administered intraperitoneally for 56 days. At the end of the treatment, blood sampling was performed for biochemical assessment. Then, the rats were sacrificed and their left testis and epididymis were cut for sperm analysis as well as histopathology and morphometric evaluation.

Diabetes was associated with a reduced sperm count, motility, viability, maturity, and chromatin quality of sperm (p ≤ 0.001). It was also associated with a higher malondialdehide level and lower total antioxidant capacity level of serum in comparison with the control group (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant difference in the seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height, and testicular histopathological alterations in the diabetic rats compared with the control rats (p ≤ 0.001). Treatment with metformin and silymarin improved the above-mentioned parameters and this improvement was more substantial in silymarin-treated animals (p ≤ 0.001).

In diabetic rats, metformin and silymarin improved sperm parameters, sperm DNA integrity, seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium thickness, and testicular histopathological complications; this improvement was more substantial in the silymarin-treated group. So, the findings of this study suggest that silymarin is more effective than metformin in treating diabetic-induced infertility.

Aortic artery stenosis leads to Ischemia-Reperfusion (I-R) injury, which can cause certain clinical expressions, such as paraplegia.

To appraise the effect of Catechin Hydrate (CH) against spinal cord I-R injury.

A total of 35 male rats (250-300 g) were divided randomly into five groups:  intact, sham surgery, dimethyl sulfoxide (I-R+DMSO), low-dose CH (I-R+10 mg/kg CH), and high-dose CH (I-R+20 mg/kg CH). Abdominal aorta clamping was done for 60 min. Seventy-two hours after I-R, animals were evaluated for neurologic function, biochemical analysis, and histology. The data analysis was conducted by SPSS v. 16 using ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.

The mean Motor Deficit Index (MDI) score and white matter damage in the CH (20 mg/kg) group were lower than in the DMSO group (P=0.032). The mean plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the CH groups were lower than that of the DMSO group (P<0.05). The plasma level of Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) in the CH (20 mg/kg) group was higher than in the DMSO group (P=0.032). In addition, the plasma level of catalase in the CH (20 mg/kg) group was higher than in the DMSO and CH (10 mg/kg) groups (P<0.001). The average number of normal motor neurons in the experimental groups was lower than in the sham surgery group (P<0.001). 

These results showed that CH may be effective in reducing spinal cord I-R injury.

Titanium dioxide particles (TiO2) as the second most widely used materials in consumer products are composed of nano-sized (100 nm) particles (FPs). Toxicological studies on animals have shown that TiO2 NPs exposure can cross the blood-testis barrier and accumulate in the testis resulting in testicular tissue damage and reduction of sperm count and motility. However, there is no information on the toxic effects of TiO2 FPs on male reproductive fertility. Twenty-four adult male mice were randomly divided into three groups including control, TiO2 NPs, and TiO2 FPs (150 mg kg-1 per day). After intragastric administration for 35 days, testicular tissue alterations (seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelial height), sperm parameters (count, motility, viability, morphology, and DNA quality), in vitro fertilization potential, oxidative stress assays such as malondialdehyde (MDA) content, level of glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in testicular tissue were investigated. The results showed that both sizes of TiO2 caused pathologic changes in the testis and significantly increased MDA level and decreased GSH levels and activities of SOD and GPx in testicular tissue. Moreover, the administration of both sizes of TiO2 significantly decreased all of the sperm parameters and in vitro fertility (fertilization rate and pre-implantation embryos development) compared to control. Administration of TiO2 FPs similar to TiO2 NPs through inducing damages to testis led to a marked reduction in sperm quality, in vitro fertilization, and embryos development in male mice.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury of the ovary may lead to ovarian injury. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of the crocin on ovarian I-R injury.

Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups: sham surgery, ischemia, I-R, I-R+normal saline (NS), I-R+low dose crocin (20 mg/kg crocin), and I-R+ high dose crocin (80 mg/kg crocin). Neurological function, biochemical and histological evaluation was done 72 hours after ischemia.

The plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total Antioxidative Capacity (TAC) in the ischemia, I-R, and I-R+ NS groups increased and decreased significantly compared to the crocin groups, respectively (p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). Catalase activity in the high dose crocin group was higher than the ischemia, I-R, and I-R+ NS groups (p<0.01). The mean scores of edema, congestion, hemorrhage, and follicular degeneration were significantly lower than in the crocin groups than in the ischemia, I-R, and I-R+NS groups (p<0.05).

Findings suggest that crocin may protect ovary from ischemia-reperfusion injury.