FOXO1 targeting by capsaicin reduces tissue damage after testicular torsion

The emergence of natural products as potential therapeutics for male infertility

Infertility is a major reproductive health problem. Approximately 50% of all documented cases of infertility are attributable to male factors, such as poor testicular function and semen quality. The recent significant global decline in sperm counts has serious implications for male fertility, but the armamentarium for improving testicular function and semen quality is limited. Natural products have a wide range of activities and are a major source of drugs for disease prevention and treatment. To provide ideas and a theoretical basis for the research and development of therapeutic drugs for male infertility, this review summarizes natural products (mostly monomers) that have been shown to improve testicular function and semen quality and their possible mechanisms of action. These natural products primarily improve testicular function and semen quality via antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, in addition to increasing serum testosterone and reducing DNA damage in spermatozoa and testicular cells. Prospects for the application of natural products in the treatment of male infertility are discussed.

Pathophysiology and management of testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury: Lessons from animal models

Testicular torsion is a urological emergency that involves the twisting of the spermatic cord along its course. Compelling pieces of evidence have implicated oxidative stress-sensitive signaling in pathogenesis of testicular I/R injury. Although, surgical detorsion is the mainstay management; blockade of the pathways involved in the pathogenesis may improve the surgical outcome. Experimental studies using various testicular I/R models have been reported in a bid to explore the mechanisms associated with testicular I/R and evaluate the benefits of potential therapeutic measures; however, most are limited by their shortcomings. Thus, this review was intended to describe the details of the available testicular I/R models as well as their merits and drawbacks, the pathophysiological basis and consequences of testicular I/R, and the pharmacological agents that have being proposed to confer testicular benefits against testicular I/R. This provides an understanding of the pathophysiological events and available models used in studying testicular I/R. In addition, this research provides evidence-based molecules with therapeutic potentials as well as their mechanisms of action in testicular I/R.

Testicular torsion in vivo models: Mechanisms and treatments

BACKGROUND

Testicular torsion is a condition in which a testis rotates around its longitudinal axis and twists the spermatic cord. This in turn results in a significant decrease in blood flow and perfusion of testicular tissue. During Testicular torsion, the testicular tissue is affected by ischemia, heat stress, hypoxia, and oxidative and nitrosative stress. The testicular torsion should be considered an emergency condition and surgical intervention (testicular detorsion ) as the sole treatment option in viable cases involves counter-rotation on twisted testes associated, when possible, to orchipexy, in order to avoid recurrence. Possible testicular detorsion side-effects occur due to reperfusion and endothelial cells injury, microcirculation disturbances, and intense germ cells loss.

OBJECTIVES

To discuss testicular torsion surgery-based methods, different time frames for testicular torsion induction, and the associated pathophysiology by emphasizing cellular and molecular events as well as different therapeutic agent applications for testicular torsion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed all original research and epidemiological papers related to testicular torsion condition.

RESULTS

Testicular torsion causes germ cell necrosis, arrested spermatogenesis, and diminished testosterone levels, with consequent infertility. Among different involved pathophysiological impacts, testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia seems to play the key role by leading the tissue toward other series of events in testis. Numerous studies have used adjuvant antioxidants, calcium channel blockers, anti-inflammatory agents, or vasodilating agents in order to decrease these effects.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, no previously conducted study examined therapeutical agents' beneficial effects post clinical I/R condition in humans. Different agents targeting different pathophysiological conditions were used to ameliorate the ischemia/reperfusion-induced condition in animal models, however, none of the administrated agents were tested in human cases. Although considering testicular detorsion surgery is still the golden method to reverse the testicular torsion condition and the surgical approach is undeniable, the evaluated agents with beneficial effects, need to be investigated furthermore in clinical conditions. Thus, furthermore clinical studies and case reports are required to approve the animal models proposed agents' beneficial impacts.

Therapeutic effects of thymoquinone or capsaicin on acrylamide-induced reproductive toxicity in rats mediated by their effect on oxidative stress, inflammation, and tight junction integrity

In the field of environmental toxicology, endocrine-disrupting effects have become a major concern. The present research set out to investigate the possible reproductive toxicity of acrylamide. The research was also expanded to explore the protective effects of two nutraceuticals, thymoquinone (TQ) and capsaicin, against acrylamide-induced reproductive toxicity. Six groups of sixty male albino rats were created. Group 1 was used as a control. Rats were administered a daily dose of acrylamide and acted as the model in Group 2. TQ was provided to rats once a day in Group 3. Capsaicin was administered to rats once a day in Group 4. TQ was given once daily to rats exposed to acrylamide in Group 5. Rats were given capsaicin once a day for eight weeks after being exposed to acrylamide in Group 6. Acrylamide induced oxidative stress, testicular NF-κB/p65 expression, and down-regulated the expression of occludin, all of which can contribute to its testicular toxicity, while TQ or capsaicin removes all of these toxicity signs. TQ and capsaicin have shown efficacy in alleviating all of the acrylamide's toxic insults in the current reproductive toxicity model. Both nutraceuticals upregulated the expression of occludin in testicular tissue and restored tight junction integrity, in addition to their well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which were confirmed in this study.

Effect of dietary curcumin and capsaicin on testicular and hepatic oxidant–antioxidant status in rats fed a high-fat diet

This study investigated the effects of curcumin and capsaicin on testicular and hepatic oxidant–antioxidant status in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (8 rats per group). The control group was fed a normal control diet (standard laboratory chow), the HFD group was fed HFD (60% of total calories from fat), the HFD+CUR group received HFD supplemented with curcumin (1.5 g curcumin/kg HFD), the HFD+CAP group was given HFD supplemented with capsaicin (0.15 g capsaicin/kg HFD), and the HFD+CUR+CAP group received HFD supplemented with curcumin and capsaicin for 16 weeks. Hepatic and testicular thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) levels, glutathione transferase activity, and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase protein expression and enzyme activities were measured. Protein expression was determined by Western blotting. GSH levels and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured with colorimetric methods. HFD slightly increased hepatic and testicular oxidative stress parameters. GSH levels did not change between groups. TBARS and ROS levels were significantly reduced in the HFD+CUR+CAP group compared with the HFD group. Liver and testis antioxidant enzyme activities and expression increased significantly with combined capsaicin and curcumin treatment. Curcumin and capsaicin treatment attenuated testicular and hepatic oxidative stress and enhanced the antioxidant defense system. The combination of capsaicin and curcumin with HFD seems to have some remarkable and beneficial effects on testicular oxidative damage in the fatty liver rat model.

Hesperidin improves the follicular development in 3D culture of isolated preantral ovarian follicles of mice

IMPACT STATEMENT

It has been stated that hesperidin has many pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, antimicrobial activity, and anti-carcinogenic activity; but hesperidin and its derivatives have been under investigation as anti-fertility factors for a very long time. However, our results show that hesperidin can improve mice follicular growth and maturation during in vitro 3D culture. Hesperidin as an antioxidant factor could enhance the mRNA expression levels of two important genes involved in folliculogenesis, PCNA, and FSH-R. Our results prove for the first time that hesperidin not only has deleterious effects on follicular development but can also increase rates of in vitro fertilization and embryo development.