Rohypnol-induced sexual dysfunction is via suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis: An experimental study in rats.

Sexual activity is an essential part of reproductive functions and needed for the maintenance of fertility. Drugs, particularly substances of abuse, impair male reproductive function either by interrupting hormonal functions or through the nonhormonal pathways. This study evaluated the impact of Rohypnol use in sexual behaviour. Materials and methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats of comparable weights (180-200 g) were randomly allocated into three groups, the control and low-dose and high-dose Rohypnol-treated groups. The control group received 0.5 ml of distilled water, while the low- and high-dose Rohypnol-treated groups received 2 mg/kg b.w and 4 mg/kg b.w of Rohypnol via oral lavage once daily for 28 days. Rohypnol significantly increased mount latency, intromission latency, ejaculation latency and post-ejaculatory interval, as well as lowered mount frequency, intromission frequency and ejaculation frequency. Rohypnol-induced sexual dysfunction was found to be associated with significant suppression of circulatory follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, testosterone and oestrogen. The present study reveals that Rohypnol induces sexual dysfunction through suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. It also implicates Rohypnol as a potential candidate for drug-induced infertility.

Skoochies and its component substances induced testicular damage and impaired sperm function via increased generation of reactive oxygen species and impairment of the glutathione system in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of skoochies, an illicit cocktail drink, on testicular and sperm function in male rats. DESIGN: Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were assigned randomly into five groups (n = 5) as follows: normal saline; skoochies; Cannabis sativa; codeine; and tramadol. The cocktail (skoochies) used in this study was formulated with the following composition: codeine (5 mg/kg); tramadol (20 mg/kg); and cannabis extract (2 mg/kg). These doses are as previously reported. Administration was performed once daily for 28 days. SETTING: University. ANIMAL(S): Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats. INTERVENTION(S): Skoochies, tramadol, Codeiene, Cannabis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Skoochies and its components induced testicular and sperm damage via increased generation of reactive oxygen species and impairment of glutathione system in rats. RESULT(S): Skoochies increased reactive oxygen species generation and impaired the antioxidant system resulting in inflammation that eventually damaged the testicular tissue. Skoochies caused oxidoinflammatory injury to this tissue, leading to impaired testicular function. This was evident by the distorted cytoarchitecture, reduced sperm count and motility, and impaired testicular deoxyribonucleic acid integrity. CONCLUSION(S): Thus, our results infer that skoochies impaired the testicular and sperm function through the increased generation of reactive oxygen species and impairment of the glutathione system.

Omega-3 fatty acids abrogates oxido-inflammatory and mitochondrial dysfunction-associated apoptotic responses in testis of tamoxifen-treated rats.

Background: Tamoxifen (TAM) is a widely used drug in patients with gynecomastia and breast cancer. TAM exerts its anticancer effects via its antiestrogenic activities. Unfortunately, TAM has been reported to exert gonadotoxic effects on male testes. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the possible associated mechanisms involved in TAM-induced testicular dysfunction and the possible ameliorative effects of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA). Methodology: Animals were randomly divided into control, O3FA, TAM, and TAM + O3FA. All treatment lasted for 28 days. Results: TAM exposure impaired sperm qualities (count, motility, and normal morphology) and decreased testicular 3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD. It was accompanied by a decline in serum testosterone and an increase in estradiol, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones. These observed alterations were associated with an increase in testicular injury markers, oxido-inflammatory response, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. These observed alterations were ameliorated by O3FA treatments. Conclusions: O3FA ameliorated TAM-induced testicular dysfunction in male Wistar rats by modulating XO/UA and Nrf2/NF-kb signaling and cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis in TAM-treated rats.

Disruptive consequences of monosodium glutamate on male reproductive function: A review.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most extensively used flavour enhancers worldwide. Although it is widely regarded as a safe food additive with no recommended daily dosage, its over-consumption has been associated with notably pathophysiological events in various tissues and organs of the body. Previous studies have reported of the neuro- cardio- and hepato- toxic effects of its excessive exposure. Moreover, the food additive instigates metabolic dysfunction. It has been established that MSG damages male reproductive accessory organs like prostate glands and epididymis. In addition, it impairs serum enzymatic activities and serum levels of testosterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone and cholesterol. Reduced sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, and sperm viability, imbalances in male reproductive hormones, alongside alteration in the histoarchitecture of the testes and other male reproductive tissues have also been connected with excessive exposure to MSG. Literature reports affirm the link between the over-consumption of MSG and reproductive organ weight and male sexual behaviour. This review article addresses the multi-systemic effects of exposure to MSG and the possible mechanism of action of the compound with a focus on the negative implications of the food additive on male reproductive functions and the possible role of natural antioxidants in male reproductive functions. carefully selected keywords were used during the literature search to gather credible and up-to-date information about the subject matter.

Mechanism associated with changes in male reproductive functions during ageing process.

Ageing is a natural process with physiological changes in different body parts and has been associated with decreased reproductive capacity. Factors such as imbalance in the antioxidant defence system, vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, accessory reproductive glands infection, obesity as well as buildup of toxic substances play a role in age-related male reproductive malfunction. Age is inversely proportional to volume of semen, sperm count, sperm progressive motility, sperm viability, normal sperm morphology. The observed negative correlation between ageing and semen indices contributes to male infertility and reproductive decline. Normal levels of ROS, plays crucial role in facilitating sperm function, such as capacitation, hyper-activation, acrosome reaction as well as sperm-oocyte fusion; however, a substantial elevation in the endogenous level of ROS, especially in reproductive tissues, usually instigates destruction of sperm cells and heightened male infertility. Contrarily, antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and micronutrients like zinc and folate, have been found by researchers to facilitate normal semen quality and male reproductive function. Furthermore, the role of hormonal imbalance as a result of the compromised hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, Sertoli and Leydig cells disorder, and nitric oxide-medicated erectile dysfunction during ageing cannot be undermined.