The benefit of Silybum marianum in ethanol-induced reprotoxicity of male Wistar rat

Abstract This study investigates the toxic effects of ethanol (Eth) on the reproductive system of male rats and the possible protective role of Silybum marianum seeds-infused solution (SMI) over six consecutive weeks of administration. Animals were divided into the following groups: control, SMI positive control (200 mg/kg/day), Eth1 (1 g/kg/day), Eth2 (2 g/kg/day), Eth1+SMI, and Eth2+SMI. Plasma testosterone concentration, epididymal spermatozoa biology, and testicular and epididymal MDA, GSH and GPx levels were evaluated. The results indicated a significant decrease in testis and epididymis weight, testosterone level, sperm concentration, sperm vitality and sperm motility (total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, velocity average path, beat cross frequency, and lateral head displacement) in both Eth1 and Eth2 compared to the control groups and the combined-treatment groups (Eth1+SMI and Eth2+SMI). Furthermore, results showed a significant elevation in MDA concentration with a significant decrease of testicular and epididymal GSH concentration and GPx activity in theEth1 and Eth2 groups compared to the combined-treatment groups. The administration of SMI succeeded in improving the parameters cited above in the combined-treatment groups compared to the Eth1 and Eth2 groups, and bring them to the levels seen in the control groups. To conclude, SMI has clearly protected reproductive indices against ethanol-induced reprotoxicity in male rats

Effect of ascorbic acid on reproductive function of male rats exposed to lead acetate

Abstract Background: The anti-oxidant ascorbic acid [AA] is known as a chelating agent in treatment of lead [Pb] toxicity, and has been reported to protect the cells from oxidative stress

Objective[s]: This work aims to study the efficiency of ascorbic acid on semen quality, sex hormone, antioxidant parameters and testis histology in rats treated with lead acetate

Methods: A total of 50 male rats were divided into five equal groups; control group [received tap water only], Pb group [received 0.2% lead acetate/kg, BW] and the other three groups [received 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg BW AA along with 0.2% lead acetate/kg BW], respectively. Doses [as solutions] were orally administered every day for 8 weeks. Motility, validity, abnormal and dead sperm were assessed. Testosterone, luteinizing [LH] and follicle- stimulating [FSH] hormones were measured. Antioxidant activity [glutathione [GSH], thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], total antioxidant capacity [TAC] and the level of nitric oxide [NO]] were determined. Histopathological examination was done for testis

Results: The results showed that Pb caused a significant increase in number of abnormal and dead sperms in Pb group [43.0%, 67.2%] comparing to the control group [6.0%, 18.6%] respectively. Motility and validity of the sperm were significantly decreased in Pb group [16.0%, 32.8%] comparing to the control group [84.2%, 81.4%] respectively. Pb caused a significant increase in FSH [1.99 mIU/L] and LH [1.2 mIU/L] and a decrease in Testosterone hormones [0.86 nmol/L] comparing to the control group [0.64 mIU/L, 1.2 mIU/L, 5.24 nmol/L] respectively. On the other hand, AA caused a significant decrease in numbers of abnormal and dead sperms than in Pb group. AA also caused an increase in motility and viability of the sperms at all levels. Testosterone hormone showed a marked increased with AA and the best effect was found with the high level [1500 mg /kg BW]. For antioxidant activity it was found that Pb caused a significant increase in NO and TBARS levels comparing to the control group, while it decreased significantly GSH and TAC levels. The significant effect for AA was found with the high level [1500 mg] on NO [28.5 micro mol/ml] and GSH [4.9 micro mol/ml]. Also, it was found that AA significantly affected TBARS and TAC at all levels. Histopathological examination showed the presence of AA reduced the harmful effect of lead acetate on testis

Conclusion: High daily intake of AA from rich sources or from supplementation can protect reproductive system of male rats from lead toxicity

Histological and histochemical changes by clove essential oil upon the gonads of Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) / Alteraciones histológicas e histoquímicas provocadas por el aceite esencial de clavo de olor en las gónadas de Spodoptera frugiperda ( je smith ) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera frugiperda is a polyphagous insect that causes economic losses to several crops in Brazil and is the major obstacle to corn production. Researches focusing on alternative control, e.g. botanical products are expanding to offer a wide variety of molecules that interfere with different biological parameters of insect pests. Thus, this study tested the hypothesis that clove essential oil affects the spermatogenesis, ovarioles histochemistry and the fertility of S. frugiperda. The results showed that clove essential oil affects the gametogenesis of S. frugiperda ovarioles, reflecting negatively on its reproduction, proving to be a promising tool for controlling this pest.

Spodoptera frugiperda es un insecto polífago que causa pérdidas económicas a varias cosechas en Brasil y es el mayor obstáculo para la producción de maíz. Este estudio está centrado en el control alternativo, con productos botánicos que se están expandiendo y ofrecen una amplia variedad de moléculas que interfieren con diferentes parámetros biológicos de plagas de insectos. Por tanto, se puso a prueba la hipótesis de que el aceite esencial de clavo de olor afecta la espermatogénesis. La histoquímica de los ovarioles y la fertilidad de S. frugiperda. Los resultados mostraron que el aceite esencial de clavo de olor afecta la gametogénesis de los ovarioles en S. frugiperda, lo que incide negativamente en su reproducción, demostrando ser una herramienta prometedora para el control de esta plaga.

Triorganotin as a compound with potential reproductive toxicity in mammals

Organotin compounds are typical environmental contaminants and suspected endocrine-disrupting substances, which cause irreversible sexual abnormality in female mollusks, called "imposex". However, little is known about the capability of triorganotin compounds, such as tributyltin and triphenyltin, to cause disorders in the sexual development and reproductive functions of mammals, including humans and rodents. Moreover, these compounds can act as potential competitive inhibitors of aromatase enzyme and other steroidogenic enzymes, affecting the reproductive capacity of male and female mammals. In this review, we discuss the cellular, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms by which triorganotin compounds induce adverse effects in the mammalian reproductive function.

Compuestos disruptores endocrinos y su participación en la programación del eje reproductivo / Endocrine disruptor compounds and their role on the developmental programming of the reproductive axis

Different perturbations during fetal and post natal development unleash endocrine adaptations that permanently alter metabolism, increasing the susceptibility to develop later disease, process known as "developmental programming"'. Endocrine disruptor compounds (EDC) are widely spread on the environment and display estrogenic, anti-estrogenic or anti-androgenic activity; they are lypophilyc and stored for long periods on the adipose tissue. Maternal exposure to EDC during pregnancy and lactation produces the exposure of the fetus and neonate through placenta and breast milk. Epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated reproductive alterations as a consequence of intrauterine and/or neonatal exposure to EDC. Diethystilbestrol (DES) is the best documented compound, this synthetic estrogen was administered to pregnant women at the BO and 60 to prevent miscarriage. It was implicated in urogenital abnormalities in children exposed in utero and withdrawn from the market. The "DES daughters" are women with high incidence of vaginal hypoplasia, spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, uterine malformation, menstrual abnormalities and low fertility. The "DES sons" show testicular dysgenesis syndrome, which is characterized by hypospadias, cryptorchidism and low semen quality. This entity is also associated to the fetal exposure to anti-androgens as flutamide. The effects on the reproductive axis depend on the stage of development and the window of exposure, as well as the dose and the compound. The wide distribution of EDC into the environment affects both human health and ecosystems in general, the study of their mechanisms of action is extremely important currently.

Diversas perturbaciones durante el desarrollo fetal y posnatal desencadenan adaptaciones endocrinas que modifican permanentemente el metabolismo, incrementando la susceptibilidad para el desarrollo de enfermedades, proceso conocido como "programación durante el desarrollo". Los compuestos disruptores endocrinos (CDE) se encuentran en el medio ambiente y presentan actividad estrogénica, antiestrogénica o antiandrogénica; son altamente lipofílicos y se almacenan por periodos prolongados en el tejido adiposo. La exposición materna a CDE durante el embarazo y la lactancia permite su paso al producto a través de la placenta y la leche materna. Estudios epidemiológicos y experimentales han demostrado alteraciones en el eje reproductivo como consecuencia de la exposición intrauterina y/o neonatal a CDE. El compuesto mejor documentado es el dietilestilbestrol (DES), este estrógeno sintético fue administrado a mujeres embarazadas durante los 50s y 60s y retirado del mercado por su implicación en anormalidades urogenitales de los bebés expuestos in útero. Las denominadas "hijas del DES" son mujeres con alta incidencia de hipoplasia vaginal, malformaciones uterinas, irregularidades menstruales, baja fertilidad y alta prevalencia de aborto espontáneo y parto prematuro. Por su parte, "los hijos del DES" presentan una entidad clínica conocida como síndrome de disgenesia testicular caracterizado por hipospadias, criptorquidia y baja calidad del semen. Este síndrome también se asocia a la exposición fetal a compuestos antiandrogénicos como la ñutamida. Los efectos en el eje reproductivo dependen del estadio de desarrollo y del tiempo de exposición, así como de la dosis y el compuesto del que se trate. La extensa presencia de CDE en el ambiente afecta la salud humana e impacta al ecosistema en general por lo cual es de suma importancia el estudio de los mecanismos involucrados en su acción.

Effects of experimental chronic alcoholism on the seminal vesicle and testis weigh of adult rats (rattus norvegicus)

Fueron estudiados los efectos del alcoholismo crónico experimental en el peso de las glándulas sexuales accesorias y en el peso del testículo. Ratas albinas adultas recibieron solamente aguardiente de caña de 30º Gay Lussac (v/v), mientras los controles recibieron agua del grifo. Después de 60, 120, 180 y 240 días de tratamiento las ratas de cada grupo fueron anestesiadas, pesadas y sacrificadas. Fueron registrados: alteraciones en el consumo de ración diario y consumo líquido, aumento de peso medio diario, peso medio de la próstata, de la vesícula seminal, de las glándulas de coagulación y peso del testículo. El alcoholismo crónico experimental afecto al peso tanto de las vesículas seminales, como de los testículos, ocasionando una reducción de ellos, recuperándose éstos órganos 240 días posterior a la suspensión de la administración del alcohol

Influência da ministraçäo prolongada do propionato de testosterona sobre o aparelho genital de ratas jovens e adultas / Influence of prolonged administration of testosterone propionate on the sex organs of young and adult female rats

O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar os efeitos imediatos da açäo do propionato de testosterona, utilizado por tempo prolongado, no trato genital de ratas jovens e adultas com destaque para as alteraçöes histológicas. Foram utilizadas 64 ratas, divididas em 4 grupos, de acordo com a faixa etária e o tratamento. O propionato de testosterona diminuiu de maneira análoga o peso dos ovários direito e esquerdo nos animais jovens e adultos e aumentou o peso do útero de modo mais acentuado nos adultos tratados. O exame histológico mostrou diferenças significativas entre os animais dos grupos tratados e os controles: diminuiçäo do número de corpos lúteos nos jovens e adultos, aumento no número de folículos nos jovens e aumento do número de cistos foliculares e do número de glândulas endometriais nos adultos. Observou-se atrofia em toda a extensäo do endométrio nos animais jovens tratados e atrofia com epitélio papilífero nos adultos tratados. O edema da camada muscular esteve presente apenas nos adultos tratados. A vagina dos animais tratados mostrou um epitélio mucosecretor com número variável de projeçöes papilíferas. Estes resultados sugerem que o modelo experimental utilizado causa falência ovulatória, atrofia endometrial e transformaçäo mucosecretora do epitélio vaginal de ratas jovens, com efeitos mais atenuados nas ratas adultas.