Effect of royal jelly on testicular antioxidant enzymes activity, MDA level and spermatogenesis in rat experimental Varicocele model.

Varicocele is one of the most prevalent causes of infertility. It causes induction of oxidative stress, increases lipid peroxidation in the testis and disrupts spermatogenesis cycle. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible protective effects of royal jelly against varicocele induced oxidative stress, biochemical and histological alterations in the experimental varicocele model in rat. Twenty-one adult Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The control group (I), Varicocele and administration of normal saline (II), varicocele and treatment with RJ (III). At the end of the experiment, all the animals were sacrificed and testes excised. The activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and MDA levels were measured. Also, histopathological examinations, Johnsen scores and sperm parameters were determined. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the activity level of CAT (0.223±0.005), SOD (0.177±0.0062), GPx (9.575±0.318) and a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the MDA level (2.674±0.336) of the experimental varicocele treated with royal jelly when compared to the activity of CAT (0.011±0.004), SOD (0.035±0.0096), GPx (8.864±0.397) and MDA level (4.630±0.579) of the experimental varicocele and administration of normal saline. Results of the Johnsen score showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the mean score of the RJ group (7.94±1.5) when compared to the normal saline group (6.04±1.4). Therefore, RJ is a potential area for further studies and improving in spermatogenesis cycle after varicocele.

Effect of ghrelin on the biochemical and histopathology parameters and spermatogenesis cycle following experimental varicocele in rat.

BACKGROUND: Varicocele is one of the major causes of infertility in men in which testicular function is progressively damaged. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of ghrelin on antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, SOD, GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) level and spermatogenesis cycle after induction of varicocele in rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: I-control group, II-rats with induced varicocele and injection of physiological saline and III-rats with induced varicocele and injection of ghrelin. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and their testes were removed. Antioxidant enzymes activity and MDA level were measured. Histopathological tests, Johnsen's score and sperm parameters were also evaluated. RESULTS: In varicocele group with ghrelin administration (group III), the levels of SOD (0.183 ± 0.024), GPX (9.4250 ± 0.103) and TAC (2.79 ± 0.464) increased significantly (p < 0.05), while MDA (0.304 ± 0.004) level decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with varicocele and normal saline group (II). There was no significant difference in the activity of catalase between group III (0.122 ± 0.018) and group II (0.108 ± 0.018), although ghrelin improved catalase activity in group III compared to group II. Also, in group III, there were significant increases in the Johnsen's score (7.920), sperm count (70.29 ± 5.82) and sperm viability (87.14 ± 5.21) compared with group II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ghrelin can improve the capacity of antioxidant enzymes to reduce the oxidative stress caused by varicocele and reduce spermatogenesis cycle. Therefore, special attention should be paid to ghrelin in studies evaluating antioxidant compounds in varicocele.

The Impact of Oxidative Stress on Testicular Function and the Role of Antioxidants in Improving it: A Review.

Oxidative stress is an important factor for development of male infertility because of very high rate of cell division and mitochondrial oxygen consumption in testicular tissue as well as comparably higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids in this tissue than in other tissues. Moreover, the level of oxygen pressure is low due to the weakness of testicular artery; therefore, there is a severe cell competition for oxygen. Therefore, the testicular tissue and male reproductive system are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress. On the other hand, exposure to X-ray, toxins and chemicals found in the environment as well as specific physical conditions such as varicocele can exacerbate the oxidative stress and induce apoptosis of germ cells and subsequently spermatogenesis. However, under normal conditions, the body's capacity to produce antioxidants for inhibiting adverse effects of oxidative stress is affected by metabolic process and genetic structure. Besides that, environmental factors such as diet, pollutants, and chemicals can affect this capacity. Thus, the body's antioxidant system alone is not able to neutralize all free radicals and prevent harmful complications of oxidative stress. Therefore, use of antioxidants and development of antioxidant therapy can break down the oxidative chain reaction and play a very significant role in increasing the body's capacity to fight free radical-induced oxidative stress, and therefore improve the process of spermatogenesis.

Performance of Broilers Supplemented With Peppermint ( Mentha piperita L.) Powder.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of peppermint ( Mentha piperita L.) on the performance of broiler chicks. 500 Ross broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatment groups of 4 replications in a completely randomized design format. The diets were ISO-caloric and ISO-nitrogenous ones and contained 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 g/kg of peppermint powder. At start, growing, and end periods, the effects of peppermint powder on average daily weight gain, feed conversation ratio, and mortality rate were studied. The results of the present study showed that over a production period of 42 days peppermint had a significant effect on average daily weight gain and feed conversation ratio when compared with the control group ( P < .05). The level of 4.5 g/kg had the highest average daily weight gain (52.78 g), and control treatment with 46.98 g had the least average daily weight gain among different levels of peppermint. The level of 4.5 g/kg and 6 g/kg of peppermint had the least mortality compared to control treatment during training period ( P < .05). From this experiment, we can conclude that treatment with 4.5 g/kg peppermint powder has better performance and carcass characteristics in broilers.