Chronic minocycline administration improves spermatogenesis in rats / La administración crónica de minociclina mejora la espermatogénesis en ratas

Introduction: Minocycline is a tetracycline with promising protective effects on different organs which are completely distinct from its antibacterial effects. Methods: To evaluate the effects of chronic administration of this agent on histological structure and sperm parameters of testes, forty adult male rats were randomly allocated into 2 equal groups I: control animals and II: treated animal that received 25mg/kg/day minocycline, orally. After 90 days of treatment, serum level of testosterone was assessed as well as sperm count, motility and morphology. Moreover, histological and histomorphometric evaluation of testes was performed including determination of height of the seminiferous germinal epithelium and perpendicular diameter of seminiferous tubules. Numbers of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli and Leydig cells were counted. Johnsen's scoring method was also performed. Results: Sperm parameters significantly improved in minocycline-treated animals. Moreover, number of germ cells in different stages of development significantly increased in treatment group as compared to control. This finding was associated with better Johnsen's score and thicker epithelium in seminiferous tubules. However, serum testosterone levels, Leydig and Sertoli cell count as well as tubular diameter did not show significant changes (p>0.05). Discussion: Chronic administration of minocycline is associated with improved spermatogenesis and sperm characteristics without affecting steroidogenesis in rats. (AU)

Introducción: La minociclina es una tetraciclina con efectos protectores prometedores en diferentes órganos que son completamente distintos de sus efectos antibacterianos. Métodos: Para evaluar los efectos de la administración crónica de este agente sobre la estructura histológica y los parámetros espermáticos de los testículos, se asignaron al azar 40 ratas macho adultas en 2 grupos iguales: I, animales control; y II, animal tratado que recibió 25mg/kg/día de minociclina, por vía oral. Después de 90 días de tratamiento, se evaluó el nivel sérico de testosterona, así como el recuento, la motilidad y la morfología de los espermatozoides. Además, se realizó una evaluación histológica e histomorfométrica de los testículos, incluida la determinación de la altura del epitelio germinal seminífero y el diámetro perpendicular de los túbulos seminíferos. Se contó el número de espermatogonias, espermatocitos primarios, espermátidas, células de Sertoli y Leydig. También se realizó el método de puntuación de Johnsen. Resultados: Los parámetros de los espermatozoides mejoraron significativamente en los animales tratados con minociclina. Además, el número de células germinales en diferentes etapas de desarrollo aumentó significativamente en el grupo de tratamiento en comparación con el control. Este hallazgo se asoció con una mejor puntuación de Johnsen y un epitelio más grueso en los túbulos seminíferos. Sin embargo, los niveles séricos de testosterona, el recuento de células de Leydig y Sertoli y el diámetro tubular no mostraron cambios significativos (p>0,05). Discusión: La administración crónica de minociclina se asocia con una mejor espermatogénesis y características de los espermatozoides sin afectar la esteroidogénesis en ratas. (AU)

Chronic minocycline administration improves spermatogenesis in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Minocycline is a tetracycline with promising protective effects on different organs which are completely distinct from its antibacterial effects. METHODS: To evaluate the effects of chronic administration of this agent on histological structure and sperm parameters of testes, forty adult male rats were randomly allocated into 2 equal groups I: control animals and II: treated animal that received 25mg/kg/day minocycline, orally. After 90 days of treatment, serum level of testosterone was assessed as well as sperm count, motility and morphology. Moreover, histological and histomorphometric evaluation of testes was performed including determination of height of the seminiferous germinal epithelium and perpendicular diameter of seminiferous tubules. Numbers of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli and Leydig cells were counted. Johnsen's scoring method was also performed. RESULTS: Sperm parameters significantly improved in minocycline-treated animals. Moreover, number of germ cells in different stages of development significantly increased in treatment group as compared to control. This finding was associated with better Johnsen's score and thicker epithelium in seminiferous tubules. However, serum testosterone levels, Leydig and Sertoli cell count as well as tubular diameter did not show significant changes (p>0.05). DISCUSSION: Chronic administration of minocycline is associated with improved spermatogenesis and sperm characteristics without affecting steroidogenesis in rats.

Apoptotic Effects of Melittin on 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell Line is associated with Up Regulation of Mfn1 and Drp1 mRNA Expression.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Melittin, as the main ingredient of honeybee venom, that has shown anticancer properties. The present study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic impacts of melittin on 4T1 breast cancer cells. METHODS: Hemolytic activity of different concentrations (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8µg/ml) of melittin was assayed and then cytotoxicity of selected concentrations of melittin (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64µg/ml), 2 and 4µg/ml of cisplatin and 0.513, 0.295 and 0.123µg/ml of doxorubicin was evaluated on 4T1 cells using MTT assay. We used Morphological evaluation and flow cytometric analysis was used. Real time PCR was also used to determine mRNA expression of Mfn1 and Drp1 genes. RESULTS: All compounds showed anti-proliferative effects on the tumor cell line with different potencies. Melittin had higher cytotoxicity against 4T1 breast cancer cells (IC50= 32µg/ml-72h) and higher hemolytic activity (HD50= 1µg/ml), as compared to cisplatin and doxorubicin. Mellitin at 16 and 32µg/ml showed apoptotic effects on 4T1 cells according to the flow cytometric analysis. The Real time PCR analysis of Drp1 and Mfn1 expression in cells treated with 16µg/ml of melittin revealed an up-regulation in Drp1 and Mfn1 genes mRNA expression in comparison with control group. Treatment with 32µg/ml of melittin was also associated with a rise in mRNA expression of Drp1 and Mfn1 as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that melittin has anticancer effects on 4T1 cell lines in a dose and time dependent manner and can be a good candidate for further research on breast cancer treatment.

Rosa damascena Mill. Essential Oil Has Protective Effect Against Testicular Damage in Diabetic Rats.

This study investigates the protective effect of Rosa damascena essential oil on diabetes-induced testicular damage in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups: Group I: negative control (no treatment); Group II: positive control (diabetic by alloxan injection); Groups III-VI that rendered diabetic and received, respectively, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/kg/day rose oil, orally for 28 days. Rose oil did not significantly change body weight and blood glucose level as compared to positive control. Serum testosterone level of rose oil-treated rats remained statistically the same with both negative and positive control groups (Groups I and II). Rats treated with rose oil especially at 2 higher dosages (Groups V and VI) had higher sperm count and increased diameters of seminiferous tubules as compared to Group II. Rose oil even at the lowest dosage significantly increased cell count of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, with better outcomes for higher dosages. It appears that short-term repeated dose administration of rose oil can dose-dependently improve structural deteriorations of testes and epididymal sperm count in diabetic rats.