Protective Effects of Fisetin in the Mice Induced by Long-Term Scrotal Hyperthermia.

Exposure to heat in the male reproductive system can lead to transient periods of partial or complete infertility. The current study aimed to examine the beneficial effects of  Fisetin against spermatogenic disorders in mice affected by long-term scrotal hyperthermia. For this purpose, hyperthermia was induced daily by exposure to the temperature of 43 °C for 20 min for 5 weeks. Except for the Healthy group, six other groups were exposed to heat stress: two treated groups including Preventive and Curative which received oral administration of fisetin (10 mg/kg/day) starting immediately before heat exposure and 15 consecutive days after the end of the heat exposure, respectively. And for each treated group, two groups including Positive Control (Pre/Cur+PC group) and vehicle (Pre/Cur+DMSO group) were considered. Our results showed that the testicular volume; the density of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, round spermatid, and Sertoli and Leydig cells; and sperm parameters, as well biochemical properties of the testis tissue, were remarkably higher in both Preventive and Curative groups compared to the other hyperthermia-induced groups and were highest in Preventive ones. Unlike the c-kit gene transcript which was significantly increased in the  Fisetin treatment groups (specially the Preventive group), the expression of HSP72 and NF-kß genes, Caspase3 protein, and DFI in sperm cells were significantly more decreased in Preventive and Curative groups compared to other hyperthermia-induced groups and were lowest in Preventive ones. Overall,  Fisetin exerts preventive and curative effects against spermatogenic disorders induced by long-term scrotal hyperthermia.

Effect of γ-oryzanol on testicular degeneration induced by scrotal insulation in rams.

The present study assessed the effects of daily supplementation with 33 mg/metabolic weight (MW) of γ-oryzanol on testicular degeneration induced by scrotal insulation in rams. Eight animals were divided into two groups: Control (subjected to scrotal insulation without treatment) and Gamma (subjected to scrotal insulation and γ-oryzanol treatment). The rams were subjected to scrotal insulation by covering the scrotum with a thermal bag for 72 h. Animals in the Gamma group received 33 mg/MW oral γ-oryzanol once-daily, beginning 7 days before insulation and continuing during insulation and for 20 days afterward, for a total treatment period of 30 days. Samples of semen and blood were collected during the experiment to perform biochemical evaluations of oxidative stress, seminal kinetics and morphology, and plasma testosterone concentrations. Ultrasound examinations of the testicular parenchyma and clinical evaluations of its consistency and the scrotal perimeter were also performed at weekly intervals. Testicular tissue was collected for biochemical analyses of oxidative stress parameters at the end of the experiment by orchiectomy. The results showed that testicular degeneration was induced by scrotal insulation, as was demonstrated by the reduced scrotal perimeter and increased in testicular flaccidity immediately after insulation. Moreover, a delayed increase in the number of hyperechoic points in the parenchyma and a delayed reduction in sperm motility were observed at 10 weeks after insulation by ultrasonography. Treatment with γ-oryzanol reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the testes, and increased the total antioxidant potential (assessed based on the ferric reducing ability (FRAP)) in week 10 and levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS). It also increased the number of intact spermatozoa in week 3, but increased the total number of sperm defects from week 5 onwards. Although γ-oryzanol protected the semen and testes by reducing the levels of the parameters of oxidative stress evaluated herein, the other parameters studied were not improved by the treatment. In addition, supplementation with γ-oryzanol led to more morphological abnormalities in the sperm. This study presented new information on the oral administration of γ-oryzanol to rams with testicular degeneration, and described potential therapies for this pathology, which currently has no established treatment and has important impacts on reproductive health.

Improvements in Scrotal Thermoregulation in Patients with Varicoceles Treated by Using Traditional Korean Medicine: Two Case Reports.

A varicocele is a dilatation of the pampiniform venous plexus within the spermatic cord. The incidence of varicoceles is 15%, and it occurs in more than 40% of men in infertile couples. Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) has been used to treat male infertility in Korea. We present two cases of men with varicoceles diagnosed via physical examination and scrotal thermography. We treated these men for two months by using TKM techniques, which included acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. We used scrotal thermography to evaluate the varicoceles before and after TKM treatment. After TKM treatment, the scrotal thermoregulation of both patients improved. In Patient 1, the temperature difference between the left and the right pampiniform plexus (i.e., ΔTP) was 2.8°C before treatment. It decreased to 1.3°C after treatment. In addition, the temperature difference between the testicles (ΔTT) was 1.5°C before treatment; it decreased to 0.2°C after treatment. In Patient 2, the ΔTP was 1.5°C before treatment; it decreased to 0.2°C after treatment. This report is the first to show that TKM may be an option for treating patients with varicoceles, as determined by using a scrotal thermography evaluation.

Alleviating effect of Mallotus roxburghianus in heat-induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats.

CONTEXT: Hyperthermia causes detrimental effects on the testes leading to fertility problems. Mallotus roxbhurghianus Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is used in traditional medicine and possesses antioxidant property. However, the mechanisms remain unknown in the context of alleviative action of M. roxburghianus against heat stress. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the alleviating activity of M. roxburghianus and its mechanism in scrotal hyperthermia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scrotal hyperthermia experiments were performed in three groups (n = 7 per group) consisting of (i) the control group (C) maintained at 22 °C for 30 min, (ii) the heat stress-induced group (HS), and (iii) the heat stress-induced M. roxburghianus-treated group (HSM - 400 mg/kg each) in a thermostatically controlled water bath at 43 °C for 30 min. Subsequent to the heat treatment HS group, rats were treated with saline p.o and methanol extract of M. roxburghianus was administered to the rats of HSM group along with their standard food for 14 d. Scrotal hyperthermic effects were evaluated. RESULTS: Scrotal hyperthermia significantly (p < 0.0001) elevated malondialdehyde levels while decreasing the body and testes weights, serum testosterone, and antioxidant enzyme levels due to oxidative stress. Disorganisation of seminiferous tubules and arrest of spermatogenesis were observed in the HS group. The administration of methanol extract of M. roxburghianus (400 mg/kg) for 14 d after heat treatment significantly suppressed the lipid peroxidation, restored the antioxidant enzyme and testosterone levels, revived the spermatogenesis, and increased the cell proliferation activity in the HSM group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The methanol extract of M. roxburghianus accelerates testicular recovery from the damaging influence of hyperthermia.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil inhibits in vivo and in vitro leukocyte migration.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), popularly known as rosemary, is used for food flavoring and in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, analgesic, antirheumatic, diuretic, and antiepileptic agent. Few studies have shown the anti-inflammatory effects of rosemary essential oil (REO). This study evaluated the effects of REO on leukocyte migration through in vivo leukocyte migration and in vitro chemotaxis assay. REO was analyzed by using gas chromatography-mass spectometry, and the main components identified were camphor (27.59%), 1,8-cineole (15.74%), α-pinene (16.58%), and ß-myrcene (10.02%). In rats, administration of REO reduced the number of leukocytes that rolled, adhered, and migrated to the scrotal chamber after carrageenan injection. All doses of REO tested significantly inhibited leukocyte chemotaxis induced by casein. The effects of REO on leukocyte migration highlight an important mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of rosemary.

Use of EMLA cream with vasectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the application of a eutectic mixture of anesthetic cream (EMLA cream) can decrease the pain of lidocaine injection during vasectomy. METHODS: A double-blind, prospective study was performed in which each patient acted as his own control. One hour before a double-incision vasectomy, EMLA cream was applied to one side of the scrotum and a white lanolin hand cream to the other side. A double-incision vasectomy was performed, and each patient was asked to rate the pain associated with each side of the procedure. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients agreed to the study; 61 patients thought the EMLA cream decreased the pain of the vasectomy, 16 preferred the lanolin hand cream, and 3 said there was no difference. These results were significant at the 0.0001 level using the Student t test. CONCLUSIONS: EMLA cream significantly decreases the pain associated with lidocaine injections given as local anesthesia for vasectomy.

Growth and reproductive development in Brahman bulls fed diets containing gossypol.

To determine the effect of gossypol on growth and reproductive development, Brahman bulls (n = 30) were fed diets containing gossypol (6 or 60 mg.kg BW-1.d-1) or a diet free of gossypol from weaning through puberty. Diets contained cottonseed meal (CSM), whole cottonseed (WCS), or soybean meal (SBM) as the major sources of dietary CP. Diets were formulated to provide similar NEg for medium-framed bulls to gain .9 kg/d. Measurements of BW and scrotal circumference were obtained at 28-d intervals, and beginning at 10 mo of age electroejaculates were collected at 14-d intervals. By 196 d on feed, bulls fed WCS had gained less (P < .05) BW and tended (P < .10) to have lower gain/feed than bulls fed CSM. When spermatozoa were first detected in an ejaculate, bulls fed CSM tended (P < .10) to be younger than bulls fed WCS (357 vs 386 d; SBM = 380 d); bulls fed SBM were heavier (P < .05) than bulls fed gossypol (333 vs 310 kg), but they had similar scrotal circumferences. Bulls fed WCS reached puberty at an older (P < .05) age (613 d) than bulls fed CSM (528 d; SBM = 550 d) but had similar BW and scrotal circumferences. Electroejaculated semen quality and quantity did not differ (P > .10) between treatments at puberty. Seminiferous tubule diameters did not differ (P > .10) among treatments, but bulls fed diets that contained gossypol had larger (P < .01) lumenal diameters, smaller (P < .01) germinal epithelium thickness, and fewer (P < .01) germ cell layers than bulls fed SBM diets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Unique reactions of scrotal skin to topical agents.

Topical agents that do not produce irritant reaction elsewhere on the skin readily produce irritant dermatitis and even ulceration when applied to scrotal skin. As Shelley and Shelley state: "The scrotum must be recognized as a skin area with remarkable permeability. It provides a unique percutaneous doorway for the entrance of drugs into the circulation and is thus uniquely susceptible to toxic and irritant agents."