Effect of a high fat diet on ovary morphology, in vitro development, in vitro fertilisation rate and oocyte quality in mice

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a high-fat diet (HFD) on oocyte maturation and quality in a mouse model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Female BALB/c mice were allocated to one of the following groups: (a) control group (n = 40), which received a controlled diet; or (b) HFD group (n = 40), which received an HFD for 12 weeks. Sections of the ovary were examined histologically. The number of follicles and corpora lutea were counted. In vitro maturation and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) were assessed in germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (MII) oocytes, respectively. The expression of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and leptin receptor genes in GV and MII oocytes was evaluated using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reactions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the HFD group, there was a decreased number of primordial and Graafian follicles, as well as corpora lutea (p < 0.05). The rate of oocyte development to the MII stage was also reduced (p < 0.001). Cumulus expansion was observed more frequently in the control group than the HFD group (p < 0.05). The IVF rate in the HFD group was lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). In the HFD group, BMP15 and leptin receptor genes were upregulated in the GV stage (p > 0.05) and MII stage (p < 0.05), compared to the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An HFD reduces folliculogenesis in the primordial and Graafian stages, in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilisation rates, as well as oocyte quality in mice.</p>

Protective effects of antioxidants on sperm parameters and seminiferous tubules epithelium in high fat-fed rats

Prescription of antioxidants might increase the quality of sperm parameters and improve the rate of pregnancy in obese people who suffer from infertility. Therefore, the present study investigated protective effects of vitamin A, E and astaxanthin on sperm parameters and seminiferous tubules epithelium in high-fat diet model. Thirty-six numbers of 3 months old albino Wistar rats were divided to control, high-fat diet and high-fat diet with antioxidants groups. After 12 weeks, levels of LDL-C and HDL-C were detected in the groups. Sperm was obtained from the tail of epididymis and its parameters [count, vitality, motility and morphology] were analyzed. Testes were fixed in 10% formalin and after tissue processing, stained with Hematoxylin and Eosine [H and E] for histological evaluation. Data were analyzed by a one-way ANOVA and p<0.05 was considered significant. Our results indicated that viability, motility and normal morphology of sperm in high-fat diet [HFD] decreased significantly compared to high-fat diet with antioxidant [HFD A] and the control groups [p<0.05]. Also spermatogonium and the number of Sertoli cells increased significantly in HFD+A compared to the control [p<0.05]. As it is shown in our study, application of antioxidants decreased serum triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL-C/LDL-C in high-fat diet model and improved the semen parameters. Therefore, it is suggested that the low quality of sperm can be improved in obese men through antioxidant prescription. Finally, it seems that the antioxidants in obese patients with subfertility or infertility is a new and efficient strategy with few side effects

Failure to thrive severity determination by new design curves in standard growth charts

Failure to thrive [FTT] is a perplexing disorder commonly seen by primary care physicians. Identification of FTT and an assessment of severity of the undernutrition are important to identify children at risk, and to provide appropriate intervention for preventing malnutrition and developing sequela. One of different anthropometric methods for categorizing undernutrition in childhood is Waterlow and Gomez classifications. Unfortunately, these classifications are not an easy task for the practitioners due to its difficult calculations. In this paper, Waterlow and Gomez classifications have been shown on the Standard Growth Charts [WHO 2006]. Using these curves, the practitioners can determine severity of FTT by plotting weight, height and age of the patients without any calculations

Reversible inactivation and excitation of nucleus raphe magnus can modulate tail blood flow of male wistar rats in response to hypothermia

The nucleus raphe magnus [NRM] is involved in thermoregulatory processing. There is a correlation between changes in the firing rates of the cells in the NRM and the application of the peripheral thermal stimulus. We examined the effect of reversible inactivation and excitation of NRM on mechanisms involved in tail blood flow [TBF] regulation in hypothermia. Hypothermia was induced in Male Wistar rats and cannula was implanted above the NRM. To evaluate the effect of nucleus inactivation on TBF, the amount of TBF was measured by Laser Doppler in hypothermic rats, before and after lidocaine microinjection into NRM. TBF was also measured after glutamate microinjection to assess the effect of nucleus excitation in hypothermic rats. Results indicated that after dropping TBF by hypothermia, microinjection of lidocaine into NRM significantly decreased TBF from 54.43 +/- 5.7 to 46.81 +/- 3.4, whereas glutamate microinjection caused a significant increase from 44.194 +/- 0.6 to 98 +/- 10.0 Conclusion: These data suggest that NRM have thermoregulatory effect in response to hypothermia

effect of nucleus tractus solitarius nitric oxidergic neurons on blood pressure in diabetic rats

It has been shown that nitric oxide is synthesized in the central nervous system as well as in vascular endothelial cells. Recently, it was reported that nitric oxide was involved in central cardiovascular regulation, baroreflex modulation, and involved in a reciprocal release with excitatory amino acids in the nucleus tractus solitarii of rats. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible interaction of nitric oxide and glucose in the nucleus tractus solitarii on blood pressure regulation. Male Wistar stereptozotocin induced diabetic rats were anesthetized with urethane. A cannula was inserted above the nucleus tractus solitarii and blood pressure was monitored intra-arterially. Unilateral microinjection of L-glutamate [2.3 nmol/60 nL] into the nucleus produced a decrease in blood pressure in diabetic rats. Microinjection of lidocaine [0.5 Mul%2] increased blood pressure. Unilateral microinjection of sodium nitroprusside [100 mmoV6O nL] into the nucleus increased blood pressure in diabetic rats. After microinjection of sodium nitroprusside, the depressive responses to glutamate were significantly attenuated. These results demonstrated the probable role of glucose on blood pressure regulation in diabetic animals affecting on nitric oxidergic neurons and so it implicates an interaction between nitric oxide and glucose in central cardiovascular regulation