Protective role of ascorbic acid on subacute sperm toxicity in male New Zealand white rabbits treated with endosulfan

Organochlorine pesticide exposures, metabolic enzyme genetic polymorphisms and semen quality parameters among men attending an infertility clinic

The associations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) with semen quality from human studies are conflicting, and also it is largely unknown whether the associations are modified by genetic polymorphisms. We aimed to evaluate the associations between serum concentrations of 18 OCPs and semen quality among 387 Chinese men, and further to examine the modifying effects by genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1) and glutathione S-transferase (GSTT1). Multivariable linear regressions were used to evaluate the relationships between serum OCP concentrations and semen quality, and the role of CYP2E1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms in modifying the associations were assessed. Multiple testing was adjusted using the false discovery rate (FDR). We observed that men with detectable concentrations of serum ɤ-HCH had a decrease in sperm motility of 7.07% (95% CI: -10.9%, -3.24%) compared to those with undetectable concentrations (FDR-P value = 0.02). Men with TT of CYP2E1 rs 915906 genotypes had higher median concentrations of serum dieldrin compared with those with CT/CC of CYP2E1 rs 915906 genotypes. There were interactions between CYP2E1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms and certain OCPs namely ɤ-HCH, δ-HCH, dieldrin, endosulfan I, and endrin aldehyde on semen quality. For example, elevated dieldrin levels in relation to decreased sperm concentration, sperm count, and sperm motility were only observed among men with CC of CYP2E1 rs2031920 genotypes (all P_interaction < 0.05). However, these interactions were not statistically significant after the FDR adjustment. Our results suggested that CYP2E1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms may modify the effects of OCP exposures on semen quality. Due to the relatively small size samples, further investigation is warranted to confirm the findings.

Gallic acid improves the viability and mitochondrial membrane potential of post-thawed goat buck semen

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of gallic acid (GA) on frozen-thawed goat spermatozoa. Four Honamli goat bucks were used at their breeding season, and ejaculates were collected by an electroejaculator. Mixed semen was divided into the following four groups: control (0 mM), low (L; 1 mM), medium (M; 2 mM), and high (H; 4 mM) concentration of GA. All the groups were frozen and thawed in a water bath for spermatological evaluation. The lowest motility was observed in the control group (47.60 ± 5.70%) (P < 0.05), while the highest viability (62.45 ± 1.68%), plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (44.81 ± 4.57%), and high mitochondrial membrane potential (35.96 ± 2.50%) were observed in the low GA group (P < 0.05). Also, the lowest hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS +) value was found in the high GA group (47.60 ± 4.82%) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing a low concentration (1 mM) of GA to the Tris-based semen extender had a positive effect on spermatological parameters after freeze-thawing of Honamli goat semen. Further studies should be continued in other species with different doses and combinations using commercial and/or homemade semen extenders.

The effect of carob (Ceratonia siliqua) bean extract on male New Zealand White rabbit semen

<p>The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) grows naturally in the Mediterranean region. The empiric use of carob cures for their aphrodisiac properties is very common in Turkey. Thus, the experiment was conducted to determine the effects of carob bean extracts on some reproductive parameters in male New Zealand White rabbits. During the adaptation period (stage 1), 6-8 mo old rabbits were trained in semen collection for 30 d. At the beginning of the treatment period (stage 2), rabbits were assigned randomly to 2 groups of 8 animals each. For a period of 49 d (1 spermatogenesis duration), one group was treated with a daily oral dose (10 mL) of carob extract and the other group received the corresponding volume of tap water. Semen was collected weekly. Semen samples taken at week 1 and 7 were analysed separately. At the beginning of stage 2, no differences were observed in the volume and pH of the ejaculate, sperm concentration, percentage of motility, percentage of live spermatozoa, percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity, plasma concentration of testosterone, and seminal plasma protein levels between the control and carob extract treated animals. Similarly, at the end of stage 2, there were no differences in the volume and pH of the ejaculate, motility percentage, the percentage of live spermatozoa, percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity, and the seminal plasma protein levels between the control and the carob extract treated animals. However, sperm concentration (P&lt;0.05), plasma concentration of testosterone (P&lt;0.05), and percentage of change in spermatozoa concentration (P&lt;0.02) between groups were affected at the end of stage 2. The data suggested that the use of carob cures prepared by boiling carob fruit could have beneficial influences on sperm concentration in rabbits.</p>

Antioxidant attenuation of atrazine induced histopathological changes in testicular tissue of goat in vitro

During the present investigation the effect of α-tocopherol (100 μmolL^-1) in prevention of testicular toxicity induced by atrazine in goat Capra hircus have been analyzed. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) at dose level 100 μmolL^-1 provides attenuation over the histopathological changes generated by pesticide atrazine (100 nmolml^-1). Small pieces (approximately 1mm³) of testicular tissue were divided into three groups (one control group + two experimental groups). Experimental group (A) was supplemented with 100 nmolml^-1 concentration of atrazine and experimental group (B) was supplemented with 100 nmolml^-1 atrazine and 100 μmolL^-1 concentrations of vitamin E (α-Tocopherol) and harvesting was carried out after 1, 4 and 8 hrs of exposure. Control was run along with all the experimental groups. In the experimental group (A) treated with atrazine at dose level 100 nmolml^-1, revealed histomorphological alterations in the seminiferous tubule. After one hour of exposure duration small vacuoles in cytoplasm of the Sertoli cells and spermatogonia were observed. Chromolysis at pycnosis were also noticed in the spermatogonia and spermatids. In the experimental group (B) exposed with atrazine and simultaneously supplemented with Vitamin E also showed degeneration but it was milder as compared with experimental group treated with atrazine without antioxidant. Atrazine exposure induced a decline in diameter of spermatocytes from 10.51 ± 0.2052 μm in control to 7.915 ± 0.2972, 7.5 ± 0.211 and 7.14 ± 0.225 μm after exposure of 1, 4 and 8 hrs respectively but in case of atrazine supplemented with vitamin E [experimental group (B)], there was less decline in cell diameter that was 8.5 ± 0.1865, 8.1 ± 0.1201 and 7.8 ± 0.2066μm after exposure of 1, 4 and 8 hrs respectively. The result demonstrated that vitamin E delays the degenerative changes induced by atrazine.