ABSTRACT
Background: Sulphites are widely used as a preservative and antioxidant additives in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Many types of biological and toxicological effects of sulphites in multiple organs of mammals have been shown in previous studies
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium metabisulfite [SMB] on testicular function and morphometric values of epididymis in adult male Wistar rats
Materials and Methods: A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups. The experimental groups received SMB at doses of 10 mg/kg [S10], 100mg/kg [S 100], and 260 mg/kg [S260] while an equal volume of normal saline was administered to the control group via gavage. The rats were anaesthetized after 28 days and the left testis with the head of epididymis was excised following abdominal incision for histological observation using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Serum samples were collected for assay of testosterone level. The initial epididymis was analyzed for motility, morphology, and the number of sperms
Result: The results of this study showed that normal morphology, count, and motility of sperms and testosterone level were decreased in the SMB treated groups. In comparison with the control group, SMB resulted in a lower total number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, spermatids, and Leydig cells
Conclusion: It is suggested that SMB decreases the sperm production and has the potential to affect the fertility adversely in male rats
ABSTRACT
Background: Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of metformin [MTF] in reducing insulin resistance and N-acetyl cysteine [NAC] in inhibiting oxidative stress which are involved in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS]. We aimed to compare the effects of MTF and NAC combination on serum metabolite and hormonal levels during the course of ovulation induction in PCOS individual candidates of intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]
Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, placebo con- trolled pilot study, 80 patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome at the age of 25-35 years were divided into 4 groups [n=20]: i. NAC=treated with N-acetyl cysteine [600 mg three times daily], ii. MTF=treated with metformin [500 mg three times daily], iii. MTF+NAC=treated with N-acetyl cysteine plus metformin [the offered doses] and iv. placebo [PLA]. A total number of 20 patients [6 from MTF group, 4 from NAC group, 6 from MTF+NAC group and 4 from PLA group] were dropped of the study. The drugs were administrated from day 3 of menses of previous cycle until ovum pick-up
Results: Serum levels of luteinizing hormone [LH], total testosterone, cholesterol and triglyceride, insulin and leptin significantly reduced in the MTF and NAC groups compared to the placebo [p<0.01]. But levels of LH, total testosterone, cholesterol and triglyceride had no significant reduction in the MTF+NAC groups compared to the placebo. The serum levels of malonyldialdehyde [MDA], insulin and leptin reduced significantly after treatment in the MTF+NAC group compared to the placebo [p<0.05]
Conclusion: Considering the adverse effect of combination therapy, we proposed the conadministration might have no beneficial effect for PCOS patient during course of ovulation induction of ICSI [Registration Number: IRCT201204159476N1]