Abdurrauf Yüce

Effects of pomegranate juice consumption on sperm quality, spermatogenic cell density, antioxidant activity and testosterone level in male rats

BACKGROUND & AIM Pomegranate fruit is inescapably linked with fertility, birth and eternal life because of its many seeds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption on sperm quality, spermatogenic cell density, antioxidant activity and testosterone level of male healthy rats. METHODS Twenty-eight healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups; each group containing seven rats. One milliliter distilled water, 0.25 mL PJ plus 0.75 mL distilled water, 0.50 mL PJ plus 0.50 mL distilled water and 1 mL PJ were given daily for seven weeks by gavage to rats in the first, second, third and fourth groups, respectively. Body and reproductive organ weights, spermatogenic cell density, sperm characteristics, levels of antioxidant vitamins, testosterone, and lipid peroxidation and, antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated. All analyses were done only once at the end of the seven week study period. Data were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the degree of significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS A significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) level and marked increases in glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities, and vitamin C level were observed in rats treated with different doses of PJ. PJ consumption provided an increase in epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility, spermatogenic cell density and diameter of seminiferous tubules and germinal cell layer thickness, and it decreased abnormal sperm rate when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION The results suggest that PJ consumption improves sperm quality and antioxidant activity of rats.

Chemoprotective effect of melatonin against cisplatin‐induced testicular toxicity in rats

Abstract:  In this study, we investigated the effect of melatonin on cisplatin‐induced spermiotoxicity using quantitative, biochemical and histopathological approaches. Cisplatin (CP, 7 mg/kg) and melatonin (10 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected. The rats were decapitated on 5th (short‐term group) or 50th day (long‐term group) after CP injection. Traits of reproductive organs, sperm characteristics, testicular histological findings, and the lipid peroxidation in the testicular tissue were determined. Melatonin mitigated CP‐induced reductions in testes, epididymis and accessory gland weights in rats decapitated on day 5. Both short‐ and long‐term CP treatment decreased sperm concentration, sperm motility and increased abnormal sperm rates compared with the control. But the reduction of sperm concentration in long‐term CP treatment was insignificant. Although treatment with melatonin provided moderately normalization with respect to sperm concentration in short‐term treatment group, melatonin caused a marked normalization of sperm motility in both CP + melatonin groups. Both groups treated with the melatonin showed decreases in abnormal sperm rates compared with alone CP. While testicular malondialdehyde levels were elevated after CP treatment, glutathione peroxidase activity decreased significantly in both groups. Glutathione levels reduced after long‐term treatment, but not in short‐term group by CP administration. Treatment with CP plus melatonin provided significant amelioration of oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological findings of testes in both short‐ and long‐term treatment groups paralleled the biochemical and spermatogenic results. This study clearly indicates that CP‐treatment impaired markedly testicular function and combined treatment with melatonin prevented much of the toxicity in rats.

Attenuation of cyclosporine A-induced testicular and spermatozoal damages associated with oxidative stress by ellagic acid

This study was conducted to investigate the possible protective effect of ellagic acid (EA) on cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced testicular and spermatozoal damages associated with oxidative stress in male rats. Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals each. Control group was used as placebo. Cyclosporine group received CsA at the dose of 15 mg/kg/day. Ellagic acid group was treated with EA (10 mg/kg/day). Cyclosporine plus ellagic acid group received CsA+EA. Reproductive organs were weighed and epididymal sperm characteristics and histopathological structure of testes were examined along with malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities in testicular tissue. CsA significantly decreased the weights of testes and ventral prostate, epididymal sperm concentration, motility, testicular tissue glutathione (GSH), glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), diameters of seminiferous tubules and germinal cell layer thickness, and it significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level and abnormal sperm rates along with degeneration, necrosis, immature germ cells, congestion and atrophy in testicular tissue. However, the CsA plus EA treatment attenuated all the CsA-induced negative changes observed in the testicular tissue, sperm and oxidant/antioxidant parameters. In conclusion, CsA-induced oxidative stress leads to the structural and functional damages in the testicular tissue and sperm quality of rats, and also EA has a protective effect on these damages.

Amelioration of cyclosporine A-induced renal, hepatic and cardiac damages by ellagic acid in rats.

Treatment with cyclosporine A has significantly improved long-term survival after organ transplantations. Cyclosporine A also causes a dose-related decrease in body functions in experimental animals and human beings. The generation of reactive oxygen species has been implicated in cyclosporine A-induced dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ellagic acid on cyclosporine A-induced alterations in the kidney, liver and heart oxidant/antioxidant system. The control group was treated with placebo and subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml isotonic saline + 0.5 ml slightly alkaline solution for 21 days. The cyclosporine A group received a subcutaneous injection of cyclosporine A (15 mg/kg) + 0.5 ml slightly alkaline solution for 21 days. The ellagic acid group was treated with a subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml isotonic saline + ellagic acid (10 mg/kg) for 21 days. The cyclosporine A plus ellagic acid group received a subcutaneous injection of cyclosporine A + ellagic acid for 21 days. Ellagic acid and slightly alkaline solution were administered by gavage. The rats were killed at the end of the treatment period. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities were determined in kidney, liver and heart tissues. While administration of cyclosporine A increased the MDA levels in kidney, liver and heart tissues, it decreased the GSH, GSH-Px and CAT in these samples when compared to the control group. However, the simultaneously administration of ellagic acid markedly normalized the cyclosporine A-induced liver and heart MDA levels, liver CAT activities and GSH-Px activities of all samples. Cyclosporine A caused marked damages in the histopathological status of kidney, liver and heart tissues, which were partially ameliorated by ellagic acid administration. In conclusion, ellagic acid may be used in combination with cyclosporine A in transplantation treatment to improve the cyclosporine A-induced oxidative stress parameters and other adverse effects.

Effectiveness of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced damages on the male reproductive system

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the likelihood of detrimental effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on male reproductive system through oxidative stress mechanism and also protective effects of cinnamon bark oil (CBO). For this purpose, 28 healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, seven rats in each. Group 1 received only olive oil daily; group 2 was treated with 100 mg kg−1 CBO daily; group 3 was treated with only 0.25 ml kg−1 CCl4 weekly; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily CBO. All administrations were made by intragastric catheter and maintained for 10 weeks. Body and reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular oxidative stress markers and testicular apoptosis were examined. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, testicular catalase (CAT) activity, sperm motility and concentration, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages compared with the control group. However, significant improvements were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, LPO level, apoptotic index and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with CBO when compared to group given CCl4 only. The findings of this study clearly suggest that CBO has protective effect against damages in male reproductive organs and cells induced by CCl4.

Quercetin attenuates carbon tetrachloride‐induced testicular damage in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of quercetin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced sperm damages, testicular apoptosis and oxidative stress in male rats. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was treated with only quercetin, group 3 was treated with only CCl4 and group 4 received CCl4 + quercetin. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) and catalase (CAT) activities, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and testicular apoptotic cell index, along with some histopathological damages when compared to the control group. However, administration of CCl4 together with quercetin provided statistically significant improvements in LPO level, abnormal sperm rate, the degree of histopathological lesions and testicular apoptotic cell index when compared to only CCl4 group. In addition, improvements observed in absolute and relative weights of reproductive organs, sperm motility and concentration, and testicular GSH‐Px and CAT activities in group 4 were statistically insignificant when compared to only CCl4 group. In conclusion, quercetin has antiperoxidative effect, and its oral administration attenuates the CCl4‐induced some damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the LPO.

Effects of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil on testicular antioxidant values, apoptotic germ cell and sperm quality.

Cinnamon and its contents have multifactorial properties such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antidiabetic. Male infertility is one of the major health problems in life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long‐term cinnamon bark oil (CBO) ingestion on testicular antioxidant values, apoptotic germ cell and sperm quality of adult rats. Twelve male healthy Wistar rats were divided into two groups, each group containing six rats. While olive oil was given to control group, 100 mg kg−1 CBO was administered to the other group by gavage daily for 10 weeks. Body and reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities, and testicular apoptosis via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) method were examined. A significant decrease in malondialdehyde level and marked increases in reduced glutathione level, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were observed in rats treated with CBO compared with the control group. CBO consumption provided a significant increase in weights of testes and epididymides, epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility and diameter of seminiferous tubules when compared with the control group. However, CBO consumption tended to decrease the abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic germ cell count, but it did not reach statistical significance. It is concluded that CBO has improvement effect on testicular oxidant–antioxidant balance and sperm quality, and its consumption may be useful for asthenozoospermic men.

Effect of pregnancy and foetal number on diameter of corpus luteum, maternal progesterone concentration and oxidant/antioxidant balance in ewes

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in diameter of corpus luteum (CL), maternal progesterone (P) concentration, lipid peroxidation and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels along with enzymatic antioxidant activities in pregnant ewes bearing single and twin foetuses. The ewes were selected from healthy animals that were brought to the abattoir for slaughtering. The ewes were divided into three groups: Group 1 (non-pregnant, non-oestrous, n = 30), Group 2 (pregnant bearing a single foetus, n = 30) and Group 3 (pregnant bearing twin foetuses, n = 12) after they were slaughtered. Pregnant ewes were in the first half of the pregnancy. The diameter of CL and P concentration of pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus or twin foetuses were found higher than that found in non-pregnant ewes. Similarly, the P concentration of pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses was higher than that found in pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses was higher than that found in both non-pregnant and pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus. The serum glutathione (GSH) level and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses were found lower than that found in non-pregnant ewes. Additionally, the GSH-Px activity of pregnant ewes bearing twin foetuses was found lower than that found in pregnant ewes bearing a single foetus. No significant difference was found between pregnant ewes bearing female and male foetus with respect to diameter of CL, P concentration and oxidative stress parameters. There were significant positive correlations between foetal number (0, 1, 2) and diameter of CL, P concentration, MDA level, and between P concentration and diameter of CL, MDA level. However, significant negative correlations were found between foetal number (0, 1, 2) and GSH level, GSH-Px activity, and between P concentration and GSH-Px activity. In conclusion, the diameter of CL enlarges, P production increases and oxidant/antioxidant balance impairs because of the gestation stress in ewes during pregnancy.

Ameliorating effect of pomegranate juice consumption on carbon tetrachloride-induced sperm damages, lipid peroxidation, and testicular apoptosis

The aim of this study was to investigate whether pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption has an ameliorating effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced sperm damages and testicular apoptosis associated with the oxidative stress in male rats. The study comprised of four groups (groups 1–4). Group 1 received olive oil + distilled water daily; group 2 was treated with 5 ml/kg PJ + olive oil daily; group 3 was treated with 0.25 ml/kg CCl4 dissolved in olive oil, weekly + distilled water daily; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily PJ. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular catalase activity, significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages when compared with the control group. However, significant ameliorations were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, MDA level, apoptotic index, and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with PJ when compared with group given CCl4 only. In conclusion, PJ consumption ameliorates the CCl4-induced damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the lipid peroxidation.

The effect of vitamin E treatment during preovulatory period on reproductive performance of goats following estrous synchronization using intravaginal sponges

The objectives of this study were to investigate whether the use of intravaginal sponge for estrous synchronization of goats causes oxidative stress, and to examine the effect of administering vitamin E during preovulatory period on reproductive performance of estrous synchronized goats. Estrus was synchronized in 36 non-lactating adult does using intravaginal sponges containing 30 mg of fluorogestane acetate (FGA) for 14 days. All females received 500 IU of eCG at the sponge withdrawal. The goats were allocated at random to two groups balanced for breed, age and body weight. Treatment group (n=18) received 200mg of vitamin E i.m. at the time of sponge removal and again at the time of second artificial insemination. The other 18 goats (control) were administered 1 ml of physiological saline instead of vitamin E on each of these two occasions. All does in estrus was intracervically inseminated at 12 and 24h after the onset of estrus. Blood samples were collected every 72h during the experimental period for evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin E concentrations. Serum MDA level increased and vitamin E concentration decreased during the period of vaginal sponge application. Following the sponge removal, MDA level declined rapidly to below basal level in the treatment group but remained high in the control group. Conversely, vitamin E concentration increased in the treatment group after the sponge withdrawal and remained at a low level in the control group. No statistically significant differences (P>0.05) were observed between groups in terms of estrous response, conception rate, gestation length or kidding rate. However, the number of multiple births (70.0% versus 50.0%) and prolificacy rate (2.40+/-0.37 versus 1.63+/-0.26 kids per kidding) were significantly higher (P<0.05) for the treatment group than those of the control group. The results indicate that the use of intravaginal sponges for estrous synchronization of goats causes an increase in level of oxidative stress. However, the vitamin E treatment during preovulatory period can prevent the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and it may improve the multiple birth rates and the number of kids born in estrous synchronized goats.