ABSTRACT
Objective@#Evidence indicates that an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and defense ability of antioxidants has clinical significance in the pathophysiology of male infertility. To investigate the role of seminal prolactin (PRL) in the fertilizing capacity of men, the present study evaluated the associations of seminal PRL levels with semen parameters and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) transcript abundance in ejaculated spermatozoa. @*Methods@#We assessed seminal PRL levels and the abundance of HSP90 transcripts in ejaculated spermatozoa from normozoospermic donors (n=18) and infertile men (n=18). The transcript content of HSP90 in ejaculated spermatozoa was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. @*Results@#Seminal PRL concentrations in infertile patients were significantly lower (p=0.004) than in fertile controls. Seminal PRL showed relatively good diagnostic power for discriminating infertile men (area under the curve=0.776; 95% confidence interval, 0.568 to 0.934; p=0.005). Significant positive correlations were seen between seminal PRL levels and sperm count (r=0.400, p=0.016) and progressive motility (r=0.422, p=0.010). Infertile patients showed a significantly higher abundance of sperm HSP90 than fertile controls (p=0.040). Sperm HSP90 transcript abundance was negatively correlated with sperm progressive motility (r=0.394, p=0.018). Men with higher seminal PRL levels exhibited a lower abundance of sperm HSP90 transcripts. @*Conclusion@#Our finding demonstrated associations among semen quality, seminal PRL levels, and the abundance of HSP90 transcripts in ejaculated spermatozoa. Seminal PRL may contribute to male fertility by maintaining the seminal antioxidant capacity and may have the potential to act as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.
ABSTRACT
Background: After improvements in various cancer treatments, life expectancy has been raised, but success in treatment causes loss of fertility in many of the survived young men. Cryopreservation of immature testicular tissues or cells introduced as the only way to preserve fertility. However, freezing has some harmful effects. Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, has receptors in reproductive systems of different species. It is assumed that melatonin has free radical scavenger properties
Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of melatonin on the cryopreserved testicular cells in mouse
Materials and Methods: Cells from 7- 10 days old NMRI mice testes were isolated using two step enzymatic digestion. The testicular cells were divided into two groups randomly and cryopreserved in two different freezing media with and without the addition of 100 micro m melatonin. Finally, apoptosis of the cells was assayed by flow cytometry. Also, lactate dehydrogenase activity test was performed to assess the cytotoxicity
Results: The results of lactate dehydrogenase showed the nearly cytotoxic effect of melatonin. The results of flow cytometry showed increase in apoptosis in the cryopreserved cells in the media containing melatonin compared to the control group
Conclusion: The present study shows that melatonin has an apoptotic effect on cryopreserved mouse testicular cells
ABSTRACT
Noise pollution has a high prevalence among the environmental pollutions and is considered as a teratogenic agent for reproductive system. This study was performed with the purpose of evaluation of the effect of honey and vitamin E on sex hormone levels in male rats exposed to noise pollution. Twenty-four adult male rats with the mean weight of 200 +/- 20g were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1 [honey+voice], 2 [vitamin E+voice], 3 [voice], and 4 [control]. Groups 1 and 2 received honey and vitamin E as gavage, in addition to voice; group 3 was only exposed to noise pollution. After 50 days, serum level of hormone in male rats were measured by ELISA technique after taking blood from heart. Then, the male rats were placed in a cage with female rats of the same breed with a 2:1 ratio. Weight and number of embryos from fertilization were assessed. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey statistical methods. In this study, it was found that the secretion of sex hormones [FSH, LH, and testosterone] impaired under the effect of noise pollution. Serum level of testosterone decreased in rats that were under noise stress [p<0.05], and use of honey and vitamin E as antioxidants were modulated the level of this hormone in male rats. Noise pollution in male rats increased in the serum level FSH, LH [p<0.05]. Weight and number of live embryos decreased because of this stress [p<0.05]. The use of Honey and vitamin E by male rats increased live embryos [p<0.05]. According to the results of this study, noise pollution has negative effects on the fertility of male rats. Also, use of honey and vitamin E increases the fertility in groups exposed to noise pollution