ABSTRACT
Background: The majority of male patients with spinal cord injury [SCI] suffer from infertility. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors NOD-like receptors [NLRs] are a kind of receptors that corporate in the inflammasome complex. Recent studies have introduced the inflammasome as the responsible agent for secreting cytokines in semen. Reactive oxygen species [ROS] is one of the elements that trigger inflammasome activation. Genital infections in SCI can lead to ROS generation. We investigated the relation between lipid peroxidation and inflammasome complex activity in testicular tissue of SCI rats
Methods: Adult male rats [n=20], weighting 200- 250 g, were included and divided into four groups: three experimental groups, including SCI1, SCI3, and SCI7, i.e. the rats were subjected to SCI procedure and sacrificed after one, three, and seven days, respectively and a control group. We performed a moderate, midline spinal contusion injury at thoracic level 10. The animals were anesthetized, and testes were collected for measurement of gene expression by real-time PCR. Caudal parts of epididymis were collected for malondialdehyde [MDA] measurement
Results: No NLRP1a mRNA overexpression was seen in the testes of control and SCI groups. After seven days from SCI surgery, NLRP3 mRNA expression was significantly increased in SCI7 animals [p
Conclusion: NLRP3 overexpression occurs due to the increased ROS production in testis tissue of SCI rats
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Infertility , Lipid Peroxidation/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein , Reactive Oxygen Species , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Gene Expression , Testis , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Background: Hypoxia causes detrimental effects on the structure and function of tissues through increased production of reactive oxygen species that are generated during the re-oxygenation phase of intermittent and continuous hypobaric hypoxia. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of flaxseed [Fx] in reducing the incidence of hypoxia in rat testes
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: i. Control group [Co] that received normal levels of oxygen and food, ii. Sham group [Sh] that were placed in hypoxia chamber but received normal oxygen and food, iii. Hypoxia induction group [Hx] that were placed in hypoxia chamber and treated with normal food, iv. Hypoxia induction group [Hx+Fx] that were placed in hypoxia chamber and treated with 10% flaxseed food. Both the Hx and Hx+Fx groups were kept in a hypoxic chamber for 30 days; during this period rats were exposed to reduced pressure [oxygen 8% and nitrogen 92%] for 4 hours/day. Then, all animal were sacrificed and their testes were removed. Malondialdehyde [MDA] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC] levels were evaluated in the testis tissue. Tubular damages were examined using histological studies. Blood samples and sperm were collected to assess IL-18 level and measure sperms parameters, respectively. All data were analyzed using SPPSS-22 software. One way-ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed for statistical analysis
Results: A significant difference was recorded in the testicular mass/body weight ratio in Hx and Hx+Fx groups in comparison to the control [P=0.003 and 0.027, respectively] and Sh [P=0.001 and 0.009, respectively] groups. The sperm count and motility in Hx+Fx group were significantly different from those of the Hx group [P=0.0001 and 0.028, respectively]. Also sperm viability [P=0.0001] and abnormality [P=0.0001] in Hx+Fx group were significantly different from Hx group
Conclusion: This study therefore suggests that the oral administration of flaxseed can be useful for prevention from the detrimental effects of hypoxia on rat testes structure and sperm parameters