Rutin ameliorates cisplatin-induced reproductive damage via suppression of oxidative stress and apoptosis in adult male rats.

Cisplatin (CP) treatment causes damage in the male reproductive system. Rutin (RUT) is a naturally occurring flavonoid glycoside that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate effects of RUT against cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. Twenty-one adult male Sprague Dawley rats were used. The control group received physiological saline with oral gavage during 14 days, and physiological saline was injected intraperitoneally (IP) in 10th days of study. CP Group received physiological saline during 14 days, and 10 mg kg-1 CP was injected IP in 10th day. RUT + CP group received RUT (150 mg kg-1 ) during 14 days, and 10 mg kg-1 CP was injected IP in 10th day. Spermatological parameters (including motility, cauda epididymal sperm density, dead sperm percentage and morphological sperm abnormalities), biochemical (MDA, GSH, GSH-px, SOD and CAT), histological (H&E dye) and immunochemistry evaluations of testicles were evaluated. CP treatment caused damage on some spermatological parameters, increased the oxidative stress and induced testicular degeneration and apoptosis when compared to the control group. However, RUT treatment mitigates these side effects when compared to the CP alone group. IT is concluded that RUT treatment may reduce CP-induced reproductive toxicity as a potential antioxidant compound.

3,3 diindolylmethane leads to apoptosis, decreases sperm quality, affects blood estradiol 17 ß and testosterone, oestrogen (α and ß) and androgen receptor levels in the reproductive system in male rats.

3,3 Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a major digestive product of indole-3 carbinol, obtained from Brassica family vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DIM on sperm parameters, histological structures of testicular tissues, blood testosterone (T) and estradiol 17-ß (E2) in male rats. Thirty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were used. Rats were divided into four groups: Group I: referred as Control group, received corn oil only; Group II: as DIM-10, rats received 10 mg kg-1 DIM; Group III: as DIM-50, rats received 50 mg kg-1 DIM; Group IV: as DIM-100, received 100 mg kg-1 DIM during 53 days. Spermatological parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of testes and serum T and E2 levels were assayed. Histopathological examinations of tests were done. DIM caused an increase in MDA levels. It decreased motility and live sperm rates and increased degeneration of testicular tissues. While DIM-10 did not affect abnormal sperm rate, higher concentrations increased the abnormalities. Sperm density was higher in DIM-10 groups when compared to both other groups. Only DIM-50 had an anti-androgenic effect among all groups. Only, DIM-10 showed anti-estrogenic activity as compared to higher DIM groups. In conclusion, DIM (i) had side effect on some sperm characteristics, (ii) increased the MDA levels and (iii) led to histological degeneration of testicular tissues and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

Mitigation of paracetamol-induced reproductive damage by chrysin in male rats via reducing oxidative stress.

Paracetamol (PRC) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used widely as a painkiller for various diseases and as the symptomatic flu cure in several countries worldwide. PRC toxicity may occur under conditions of the overdose usage. Chrysin (CR) is a flavonoid that is naturally present in several plants, honey and propolis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CR (at the doses of 25 mg kg-1 and 50 mg kg-1 ) pre-treatment over seven consecutive days against PRC-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. Our results showed that PRC toxicity decreased the sperm motility, and increased dead sperm rate, abnormal sperm cell rate, apoptosis and MDA levels in testicular tissues. Pre-treatment with CR at the dose of 25 and 50 mg kg-1 for 7 days mitigated side effects of acute PRC toxicity in male reproductive system proportionally in a dose-dependent manner. This possible protection mechanism might be dependent on the antioxidant activity of CR. In conclusion, pre-treatment with CR at the dose of 25 and 50 mg kg-1 for 7 days can be the beneficial against PRC-induced reproductive toxicity proportionally in a dose-dependent manner.

Effects of antioxidant vitamins (A, D, E) and trace elements (Cu, Mn, Se, Zn) on some metabolic and reproductive profiles in dairy cows during transition period.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of some antioxidant vitamins and trace elements on some metabolic and postpartum reproductive profiles in dairy cows during transition period. In the study, altogether 20 clinically healthy Brown Swiss dairy cows (aged 4-5 years-old) under the same management and feeding conditions in periparturient period were used. The animals were divided into two equal groups: control (C) and treatment (T) group (n=10 for each group). Vitamins (A, D, E) and trace elements (Cu, Mn, Se, Zn) were administered intramuscularly into the cows of the T group, while isotonic saline, as placebo, was injected subcutaneously into those in the C group. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture of the jugular vein at the beginning of transition period, parturition and 3-weeks after the parturition. The metabolic and reproductive parameters were determined. In the C group, statistically significant changes were observed in the levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total protein (TP) (p<0.05), glucose (GLU), progesterone (P4) (p<0.01), total cholesterol (T.CHOL), triglycerides (TG), UREA, creatinine (CRSC) and total bilirubin (TBIL) (p<0.001). In the T group, significant changes in the levels of NEFA, TBIL (p<0.05), T.CHOL, HDL, LDL (p<0.01), TG, GLU, P4, TAC and TOC (p<0.001) were observed. It was concluded that the administration of various vitamins and trace elements could be effective to improve some metabolic and reproductive profiles in dairy cows during the transition period.

Effect of exogenous GnRH at the time of artificial insemination on reproductive performance of Awassi ewes synchronized with progestagen-PMSG-PGF2alpha combination.

This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of PGF(2alpha) for oestrus synchronization (ES) in Awassi ewes to which were administered the progestagen-PMSG combination, and to evaluate the effect of the exogenous GnRH administration immediately after the artificial insemination (AI) on their pregnancy rate and lambing performance during the breeding season. The ewes (n = 33) were treated with an intravaginal sponge impregnated with 30 mg fluorogestane acetate for 12 days and were injected with 500 IU PMSG at the time of removal of the sponge. The ewes were then divided into three equal groups of 11 ewes each. One millilitre of physiological saline (0.9% NaCl; placebo) was administered to each ewe in Group 1 at the time of second AI. Approximately 4 microg GnRH (busereline) was injected to each ewe in Group 2 immediately after second AI. A total of 150 microg PGF(2alpha) (cloprostenole) was injected at the time of sponge removal on day 12 and 4 microg GnRH immediately after the second AI was also treated to each ewe in Group 3. Intracervical AI with diluted fresh semen was performed twice at 12 and 24 h following the onset of oestrus. The injection-oestrus onset and injection-oestrus-end interval in Group 3 was significantly (p < 0.001) shorter than both Groups 1 and 2. Although the pregnancy rates of Groups 2 and 3 (81.8%; 9/11) were numerically higher than of Group 1 (63.6%; 7/11), the difference among the groups was statistically insignificant. The multiple birth rate of Group 3 was found higher than Groups 1 and 2. However, the number of single lambs of Group 1 was also higher than Groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05). Despite the litter sizes of Groups 2 (1.27; 14/11) and 3 (1.55; 17/11) being numerically higher than Group 1 (0.73; 8/11), the differences among all the groups were statistically insignificant. In conclusion, the administration of PGF(2alpha) at the time of removal of the sponge shortens the injection oestrus-onset and oestrus-end interval in Awassi ewes treated with progestagen-PMSG. Additionally, exogenous GnRH treatment immediately after the AI increases the multiple birth rate of Awassi ewes synchronized with progestagen-PMSG-PGF(2alpha) combination.