The effect of co-administration of artemisinin and N-acetyl cysteine on antioxidant status, spermatological parameters and histopathology of testis in adult male mice.

OBJECTIVES: This in vivo study aimed to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of artemisinin (Art) alone or together with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on spermatological indices, antioxidant status, and histopathological parameters of testicular tissue in adult male mice. METHODS: Six groups of five healthy male mice (25-30 g) were randomly assigned to different experimental groups. These groups received DMSO and corn oil (0.1%) as an Art solvent (Control), 50 mg kg-1 Art (Art-50), 250 mg kg-1 Art (Art-250), 50 mg kg-1 Art + 150 mg kg-1 NAC (Art-50+NAC-150), 250 mg kg-1 Art + 150 mg kg-1 NAC (Art-250+NAC-150) and 150 mg kg-1 NAC (NAC-150) for a period of 7 days. Testes and epididymis were prepared to evaluate the malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), spermatological indices, and histological parameters. RESULTS: We showed that the high dose of Art (Art-250) significantly reduced the sperm count, motility, viability, and the activity of CAT and increased the levels of MDA compared to the control group. Also, the overdose of Art caused adverse changes in testicular tissue. Co-administration of NAC with Art (Art-250+NAC-150) corrected the adverse effects of Art. CONCLUSIONS: The current study reports that a high dose of Art affects, spermatological parameters, antioxidant/stress oxidative status of the male reproductive system, and NAC is capable neutralize all adverse effects caused by Art.

Effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplementation on testicular histology, semen characteristic, blood plasma parameters and reproductive performance in aged broiler breeder roosters.

Higher long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids contents in roosters' sperm plasma membrane along with age-related decrease in antioxidant defense make the spermatozoa very susceptible to lipid peroxidation. Ginger root contains abundant amounts of gingerol, shogaols, gingerdiol and other active compounds, which known as antioxidant compounds to enhance semen quality. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of ginger root on semen quality, blood chemistry, immune response, testicular histology and reproductive performance of Ross-308 breeder roosters from 47 to 60 weeks of age. The feeding of ginger root resulted in an increase in parameters related to sperm forward motility and seminal total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and following there was a tendency to increase and decrease in seminal superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde concentration, respectively; however, sperm concentration was not affected. There was an increase and tendency to increase in blood total protein and TAC in the supplemented group respectively. The roosters fed ginger supplemented diet had a higher spermiation index; and following there was tendency to increase seminal tubes spermatozoids number (p = 0.056) and repopulation index (p = 0.058). Despite the improved seminal antioxidant status and a tendency to lower embryonic mortality in the ginger-received group, the fertility and hatchability rate of roosters were statistically insignificant. Supplementations of ginger root in ageing rooster's diet had a beneficial effect on sperm motility, seminal antioxidant status and testicular spermiation index.