ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The aim of this study was to design and assess the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla (MC) on preantral follicle culture of mouse ovaries in a three-dimensional culture system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Isolated preantral follicles were randomly divided into three main groups: the control group containing 10% fetal bovine serum without MC extract (G1), the first experimental group supplemented with 25 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G2), and the second experimental group supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G3).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 12 days of culture, the survival rate (P < 0.05), antrum formation (P < 0.01), metaphase two oocytes (P < 0.01), and the expression of PCNA (P < 0.05) and FSHR (P < 0.05) genes significantly decreased in G3 as compared with G1. On the other hand, at the last day of culture (day 12), the mean diameter of follicles cultured in the medium which was supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile significantly decreased as compared with the G1 (P < 0.05). In addition, the levels of progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone hormones significantly increased in the medium of G3 relative to G1 (P < 0.01), while in the medium of G1, the level of 17β-estradiol was significantly higher than that of other groups (P < 0.01). Reactive oxygen species levels of metaphase II oocytes were significantly decreased in G2 as compared with G1 (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adding chamomile extract to culture media appeared to decrease follicular function and development.</p>
ABSTRACT
Background: Recently, there are increasing concerns and interests about the potential effects of Electromagnetic Field [EMF] on both human and animal health
Objective:The goal of this study was to evaluate the harmful effects of 50 Hz non-ionizing EMF on rat oocytes
Materials and Methods:In this experimental study 30 rats were randomly taken from laboratory animals and their ags and weights were determined. These 3 month's old rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. The control group consisted of 10 rats without receiving any treatment and kept under normal conditions. Experimental group 1 [10 rats] received EMF for 8 weeks [3 weeks intrauterine +5 weeks after births] and experimental group 2 [10 rats] received EMF for 13 weeks [3 weeks intrauterine +10 weeks after birth]. After removing the ovaries and isolating follicles, granulosa cells were fixed in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide. Electron microscopy was used to investigate the traumatic effects of EMF on follicles
Results: In control group nucleus membrane and mitochondria in follicle's cytoplasm seemed normal in appearance. Theca layer of primary follicles in experimental group was separated clearly, zona layer demonstrated trot with irregular thickness and ovarian stroma seemed isolated with dilated vessels showing infiltration
Conclusion:According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that EMF has harmful effects on the ovarian follicles
ABSTRACT
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE] is an animal model of multiple sclerosis, which is a demyelinating and an inflammatory disease of central nervous system. Recent studies have established that some molecules such as Lipocaline2 [LCN2], which expresses during inflammatory conditions, play an important role in EAE pathogenesis and might involve in its treatment process. Recently, it has been proved that MS 14, an herbal-marine drug, has anti-inflammatory properties through reduction of TNF-a and IL-lp. Thus, the present study investigated the effects of MS 14 on the course of EAE and its relation to LCN2 expression in both protein and gene levels. EAE was induced in female C57BL/6 mice using Hooke kits. Animals were scored for clinical signs of the disease according to a 10-point EAE scoring system. On 21[st] and 35[th] days after immunization, mice [n = 4/group] were deeply anesthetized, and the spinal cords were removed. Inflammatory cell infiltration and LCN2 expression in spinal cord were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, immuno-histochemistry, and real-time PCR methods. MS 14 significantly ameliorated EAE symptoms and decreased lymphocyte infiltration into the spinal cord [P<0.05]. Our data also revealed that LCN2 expression was significantly down-regulated in acute and chronic phases of EAE both at protein and gene levels after MS 14 treatment [P<0.05]. The results demonstrated that MS 14 regulatory effect on EAE is accompanied by LCN2 down-regulation after treatment with the herb; however, more studies are required for clarifying the other involved mechanisms
ABSTRACT
We performed this study to evaluate use of fresh and frozen sperm samples in non-obstructive azoospermia microdissection testicular sperm extraction [micro-TESE-ICSI] treatment. We performed a total of 82 consecutive in vitro fertilization [IVF] cycles at Fertijin IVF Center in Istanbul, Turkey from January 2010 to March 2012. In 43 participants we used fresh sperm and frozen sperm in the remaining 39 cases. We used fresh and frozen thawed micro surgical testicular sperm extraction [micro TESE] sperm for ICSI with metaphase II [MII] oocytes. Frozen microTESE sperm was used in 39 cycles, while 43 ICSI cycles were performed using fresh microTESE. Neither the age of male partners [38.33 +/- 5.93 and 38.13 +/- 8.28] nor that of the female participants [33.16 +/- 6.38 and 33.33 +/- 6.97] showed significant difference between fresh versus the microTESE and frozen treatment groups, respectively. FSH concentrations were [14.66 +/- 13.93 mIU/ml] in fresh TESE group and [17.91 +/- 16.29 mIU/ml] in frozen group with no correlations or differences between the two groups. The average number of mature oocytes injected with sperm was 9.23 +/- 3.77, versus 9.26 +/- 5.26 in cycles using fresh and frozen microTESE sperm, respectively. Fertilization rate was not significantly different in the fresh microTESE [44.79%] than frozen TESE sperm group [46.76%]. The average number of transferred embryos was 1.60 +/- 0.49 in fresh sperm group and 1.59 +/- 0.50 in frozen sperm group. All embryo transfers were performed on day 3. Cryopreservation of testicular sperm tissues is more suitable and of great benefite if carried out before ovulation induction and not after, especially in cases with non-obstructive azoospermia
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Spermatozoa , Azoospermia , Ovulation InductionABSTRACT
To investigate the comparative effects of aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones on testis structure and serum testosterone hormone level in rats. Forty male Wister rats were randomly divided into control [n=10] and experimental [n=30] groups. The experimental groups were subdivided into three groups of ten. Each received 5 mg/kg [IP] Gentamicin, 40mg/kg [IP] Streptomycin and 72mg/kg [IP] Ofloxacin daily for 14 days, respectively; however, the control group just received vehicle [IP]. In the fourteenth day, 5cc blood was collected for testosterone hormone then rats were killed and testis tissues were also prepared for light and electron microscopic study. Depletion of germ cells, germinal cells necrosis, especially in spermatogonia, and Leydig cells had an abnormal fibroblast-like appearance. Abnormal space between neighbour sertoli cells, mitochondria were lost cristae and vacuolated [none energized], lyzosome seen more in cytoplasm of sertoli cells and Veins congestion were seen in gentamicin and ofloxacin groups. These side effects were seen fewer in Streptomycin group. Gentamicin, Streptomycin and Ofloxacin have negative effects on testis architecture and germinal cells damages in rats. However, these side effects are seen less in the Streptomycin group. Therefore, it is recommended that usage of this drug have fewer side effects on male fertility