Evaluation of sperm DNA fragmentation in male infertility.

Sperm DNA integrity could be considered a biological marker of sperm quality and may affect fertilization, embryonic development, and pregnancy outcome. The study aimed to investigate the connection between semen characteristics and sperm DNA damage in infertile patients. Standard semen analysis of 536 samples was carried out following the World Health Organization (WHO) 5th edition recommendations. Sperm DNA damage was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, after preparation by direct swim-up. The slides were evaluated using a fluorescence microscope and the percentage of TUNEL-positive spermatozoa was expressed as the DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Patients were classified according to their DFI levels: group A (DFI < 15%) and group B (DFI ≥15%). Sperm total count, concentration, total and progressive motility, vitality, and normal morphology were significantly higher in group A compared to group B (p < 0.001). The results show a significant inverse correlation between DFI and patient's age, sperm total count, concentration, total and progressive motility, vitality and normal morphology. Higher DFI values were found to be strongly associated with poor sperm quality. In conclusion, combined with conventional semen analysis, assessment of sperm DFI could improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment management for patients with male infertility.

Evaluation of the Relation Between Omentin-1 and Vitamin D in Postmenopausal Women With or Without Osteoporosis.

INTRODUCTION: Crosstalk between bone and adipose tissues is implicated in several pathologic conditions related to bone metabolism. Omentin-1, a 34-kD protein, is released from omental adipose tissue. A few studies indicated the effect of omentin-1 on bone health and bone mineral density (BMD) and the interaction of omentin-1 with vitamin D. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between omentin-1, vitamin D, and BMD in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis compared with non-osteoporotic counterparts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (OP), 40 counterparts without OP, and 30 premenopausal women were enrolled. Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry results, body mass index, and some demographic and biochemical data were recorded. Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) levels were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Serum omentin-1 was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Omentin-1 levels tended to increase in both postmenopausal women groups compared with the control group, but this increase was significant only in women with osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels were not different between the groups. When women were categorized according to vitamin D levels, women with normal vitamin D levels had significantly higher omentin-1 levels. A positive correlation was found between omentin-1 and vitamin D levels in all groups (r=0.197, p=0.041, n=110). CONCLUSION: The tendency to an increase in omentin-1 levels in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis may be due to a physiologic compensation against bone loss after menopause. The linear relationship between omentin-1 and vitamin D suggests that adipose tissue is one of the target tissues for the vitamin D effect.

Effect of pretreatment with artichoke extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury and oxidative stress.

Artichoke is a plant with antioxidant properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of artichoke extract pretreatment on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. Rats were given artichoke leaf extract (1.5g/kg/day) by gavage for 2 weeks and after then CCl4 (1ml/kg; i.p.) was applied. All rats were killed 24h after the CCl4 injection. CCl4 administration resulted in hepatic necrosis and significant increases in plasma transaminase activities as well as hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugate (DC) levels in the liver of rats. Glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C levels decreased, but vitamin E levels increased in the liver of CCl4-treated rats. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities remained unchanged, but glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione transferase (GST) activities decreased following CCl4 treatment. In rats pretreated with artichoke extract, significant decreases in plasma transaminase activities and amelioration in histopathological changes in the liver were observed following CCl4 treatment as compared to CCl4-treated rats. In addition, hepatic MDA and DC levels decreased, but GSH levels and GSH-Px activities increased without any change in other antioxidant parameters following CCl4 treatment in artichoke-pretreated rats. The present findings indicate that in vivo architoke extract administration may be useful for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity.

Lipid peroxidation potential and antioxidants in the heart tissue of beta-alanine- or taurine-treated old rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the changes of taurine levels in the hearts of old rats on endogenous malondialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugate (DC) levels and ascorbic acid (AA)- and NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation as well as non-enzymatic (glutathione, vitamin E and vitamin C) and enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase). Two groups of old (22 mo) rats were treated with beta-alanine (3%, w/v; in drinking water), a taurine depleting agent, or taurine (2% w/v; in drinking water) for 6 wk. Significant decreases were observed in taurine contents of hearts in old rats as compared to young (5 mo) rats. We found that MDA and DC levels and AA- and NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation increased, but non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants did not alter in heart homogenates of aged rats. beta-Alanine administration resulted in significant decreases in heart taurine levels of old rats. This treatment did not cause further increases in MDA or DC levels or changes in antioxidants. However, AA- and NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation was higher than that of old rats. Taurine treatment caused significant increases in heart taurine levels of old rats. This treatment was found to decrease endogenous MDA and DC levels without affecting the antioxidant system in the heart homogenates of aged rats. AA- and NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation was also reduced in old rats when given taurine, although not statistically significantly. Our results indicate that the changes in heart taurine levels may influence the susceptibility of heart tissue to lipid peroxidation in aged rats and that taurine supplementation has protective effects on age-dependent oxidative stress in heart tissue.

Role of carnosine in preventing thioacetamide-induced liver injury in the rat.

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) is a dipeptide with antioxidant properties. Free radicals are involved in the pathogenesis of acute liver injury induced by thioacetamide (TAA). In this study, we investigated the effect of carnosine treatment on TAA-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with TAA (500 mg/kg) and carnosine (250 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was co-administered with TAA. All animals were killed 24 h after injections. TAA administration resulted in hepatic necrosis, significant increases in plasma transaminase activities as well as hepatic lipid peroxide levels. In addition, hepatic antioxidant system was found to be depressed following TAA administration. When carnosine was co-administered with TAA in rats, plasma transaminase activities were found to approach to normal values in rats. Histological findings also suggested that carnosine has preventive effect on TAA-induced hepatic necrosis. Carnosine treatment caused significant decreases in lipid peroxide levels in TAA-treated rats without any changes in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants except vitamin E in the liver of rats. Our findings indicate that carnosine, in vivo may have a preventive effect on TAA-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity by acting as an non-enzymatic antioxidant itself.