ABSTRACT
Background: Azoospermia is the medical condition of a man not having any measurable level of sperm in his semen. Follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] is a member of the glycoprotein hormone family that plays an important role in human reproduction because of its essential role in normal spermatogenesis. Various Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms [SNPs] have been reported within FSH receptor [FSHR] gene that may affect the receptor function
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between two FSHR SNPs at positions A919G, A2039G, and susceptibility to azoospermia in a group of Iranian azoospermic men. The association between FSH levels within the sera and A919G and A2039G alleles and genotypes were also investigated
Materials and Methods: This case control study was performed on 212 men with azoospermia [126 non-obstructive and 86 obstructive] and 200 healthy Iranian men. Two FSHR gene SNPs were genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. The relationship between FSH levels within the sera and A919G and A2039G alleles and genotypes were also investigated
Results: Statistical analysis indicated that at A919G position, AA genotype and A allele were more frequent in obstructive azoospermia cases compared to nonobstructive or normal men [p=0.001]. Regarding A2039G polymorphisms, no significant difference was observed between both azoospermia groups and the controls. The mean level of serum FSH was higher in the non-obstructive men compared to the obstructive patients [23.8 versus 13.8, respectively, p= 0.04]
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that the genetic polymorphisms in the FSHR gene might increase the susceptibility to azoospermia in Iranian men
ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a chronic inflammatory disease which is characterized by joint swelling, and synovial inflammation. C reactive protein [CRP] and ceruloplasmin [CP] are identified as important biomarkers of RA and various inflammatory diseases. Curcumin, a widely used yellow color spice is the most active component of Curcuma longa L [Turmeric]. Curcumin contains potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The goal of this study is evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin on arthritic palm of rats and levels of the CRP and CP in the blood samples of arthritis induced male albino Wistar rats. Arthritis was induced by subcutaneous injection of Freund's Complete Adjuvant [FCA] into the palm of right rear foot of 8 different male albino Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into five groups after the injection. These groups were as follow: Group I, control normal rats, Group II, carrier arthritic rats, Group III, arthritic rats which were given 30mg/ kg of curcumin orally seven days prior to FCA injection, Group IV, arthritic rats treated with 30mg/kg of curcumin, Group V, arthritic rats treated with 3 mg/kg of indomethacin. All the groups except group III received oral treatment with curcumin seven days after FCA injection and the treatment was continued fourteen days thereafter. The rear foot thicknesses of all the rats were measured on days 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 after FCA injection. The rats were destroyed after 20th day and their blood samples were collected. The results of this study indicate that curcumin significantly decreases swelling of the rats rear foot [p < 0.05], and levels of the CRP and CP as compared to carrier arthritic rats [p < 0.05]. One-way variance analysis by ANOVA program and post test analysis by Tukey were used for analysis of the collected data. Evaluation of the results of this experiment supports the anti-inflammatory, and possibly anti-arthritic properties of curcumin in the treatment of RA