Effect of increasing paternal body mass index on pregnancy and live birth rates in couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

In this study, our purpose was to investigate the possible effect of paternal obesity on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes on the basis of clinical pregnancy outcome. Antropometric measurements of 155 couples, referred to our infertility clinic and who underwent an ICSI cycle, have been evaluated. The study sample were divided into three groups with respect to paternal body mass index (BMI), as normal weight (BMI: 20-24.9), overweight (BMI: 25-29.9) and obese (BMI ≥ 30). Results of conventional semen analysis were also analysed. Clinical pregnancy data, including fertilisation rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate, were evaluated. Paternal obesity was a significant negative factor for sperm concentration and sperm motility (P = 0.03 and P = 0.01 respectively). A significant decrease of clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate was associated with increased paternal BMI (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03 respectively). We have not determined a significant difference among groups in terms of fertilisation rate and implantation rate. This study demonstrates that increasing paternal BMI has a negative influence on ICSI success, including clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate. There is a need for further studies to point the importance of lifestyle changes in order to overcome the negative influence of paternal obesity on couple's fertility.

Impact of micronised purified flavonoid fraction on increased malondialdehyde and decreased metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 levels in varicocele: outcome of an experimentally induced varicocele.

To analyse the levels of an indirect marker of ROS-induced lipid peroxidation [i.e. malondialdehyde (MDA)] in both testes and the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) in the left testis after induction of varicocele and investigated the impact of micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) on these markers. Forty-nine adolescent (6-week-old) male Wistar rats were included in this study. The rats were divided into seven groups as follows:Group-1, control; Group-2, sham; Group-3, left varicocele-induced; Group-4, varicocele + varicocelectomy + MPFF-treated (for 4 weeks); Group-5, varicocele + MPFF-treated (for 8 weeks); Group-6, varicocele-induced and 4 weeks later, MPFF-treated (for 4 weeks); and Group-7, varicocele + varicocelectomy. MDA was measured in the tissues of both testes using the thiobarbituric acid reactivity method. The ELISA method was used for the quantification of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the left testicular tissue. The levels of MDA were significantly higher in the varicocele group than in the other groups. The MDA levels in the left testicular tissues of Group-7 were significantly higher than those of Group 4 (P = 0.03). In the varicocele group, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels decreased, whereas the levels of TIMP-1 increased. The tissue levels of MMP-2 in Groups 4, 5 and 7 were significantly higher than those in Group 1 (P < 0.05).

Protective effects of melatonin against oxidative injury in rat testis induced by wireless (2.45 GHz) devices.

Wireless devices have become part of everyday life and mostly located near reproductive organs while they are in use. The present study was designed to determine the possible protective effects of melatonin on oxidative stress-dependent testis injury induced by 2.45-GHz electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Thirty-two rats were equally divided into four different groups, namely cage control (A1), sham control (A2), 2.45-GHz EMR (B) and 2.45-GHz EMR+melatonin (C). Group B and C were exposed to 2.45-GHz EMR during 60 min day(-1) for 30 days. Lipid peroxidation levels were higher in Group B than in Group A1 and A2. Melatonin treatment prevented the increase in the lipid peroxidation induced by EMR. Also reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in Group D were higher than that of exposure group. Vitamin A and E concentrations decreased in exposure group, and melatonin prevented the decrease in vitamin E levels. In conclusion, wireless (2.45 GHz) EMR caused oxidative damage in testis by increasing the levels of lipid peroxidation and decreasing in vitamin A and E levels. Melatonin supplementation prevented oxidative damage induced by EMR and also supported the antioxidant redox system in the testis.

N-acetyl cysteine attenuates diazinon exposure-induced oxidative stress in rat testis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the gonadotoxic effects of diazinon and its mechanism of action with special reference to its possible reactive oxygen species generating potential in rat testis and the protective effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) on the exposure of diazinon. The vehicle was given orally to the control group and NAC, diazinon, combination of NAC and diazinon were given to three treatment groups for 4 weeks. Testis lipid peroxidation levels were higher in diazinon group than in control although lipid peroxidation levels were lower in diazinon + NAC group than in diazinon group. The reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were lower in diazinon group than in control and NAC group although its levels were higher in diazinon + NAC group than in diazinon group. Vitamin C, Vitamin E and ß-carotene concentrations were also lower in diazinon group than in control and NAC groups. Vitamin E and ß-carotene concentrations were higher in diazinon + NAC group than diazinon group. Glutathione peroxidase activity and vitamin A concentrations in the testis did not show any difference between the four groups. In conclusion, we observed that NAC treatment modulated diazinon-induced oxidative injury in the rat testis. These findings suggest that NAC supplementation can be useful in testis oxidative injury caused by the organophosphate insecticides.

Long-term effects of microsurgical varicocelectomy on pain and sperm parameters in clinical varicocele patients with scrotal pain complaints.

We aimed to investigate the long-term effects of microsurgical varicocelectomy on pain improvement and sperm parameters in patients with varicocele-related pain. A total of 72 patients who had undergone microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy because of varicocele with scrotal pain between 2004 and 2009 were included in the study. The patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of pain following surgical treatment. The patients expressing a decrease in frequency and severity of pain or minimal fullness sense were included in the pain-positive group. The mean follow-up period was 54.4 ± 18.06 months. There was left-sided varicocele in 80.3% of patients, while 19.7% had bilateral varicocele. In our study, complete success rate (Visual Analog Scale: 0-1) was found to be 79.2% (57/72), while failure (complete and partial failure) rate was 20.8% (15/72), and a significant difference was found (P < 0.05). Microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy is a reliable approach for clinically varicocele patients with scrotal pain complaints. Regardless of the type of pain, varicocelectomy significantly decreases pain. The success of the treatment is not related to the degree of varicocele.