effects of testosterone on oxidative stress markers in mice with spinal cord injuries

Background: Spinal cord injury [SCI] causes infertility in male patients through erectile dys-function, ejaculatory dysfunction, semen and hormone abnormalities. Oxidative stress [OS] is involved in poor semen quality and subsequent infertility in males with SCI. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of SCI on the level of testosterone hormone

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we evaluated the effects of exogenous testosterone on the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione peroxidase [GPx] as well as the levels of malondialdehyde [MDA] and protein carbonylation [PCO], as markers of OS, in 10 groups of SCI mice. Total antioxidant capacity [TAC] was determined using the 2,29-azinobis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] [ABTS] radical cation assay

Results: Exogenous testosterone administration in mice with SCI significantly reduced SOD and GPx enzyme activities and MDA level. There was no significant decrease in PCO content. In addition, TAC remarkably increased in the sham and SCI groups not treated with testosterone but remained unchanged in all other experimental groups. Exogenous testosterone also reduced serum testosterone levels in all groups except the positive control group

Conclusion: Our cumulative data indicated that SCI could cause sterility by disturbing the plasmatic testosterone balance. The normal level of endogenous testosterone was not completely restored by exogenous testosterone administration

enhancing effects of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seed on fertility potential, plasma gonadotropins and testosterone in male rats

The task force on plants for fertility regulation in men continued with its program to identify novel prototypes in plants alleged to have fertility regulating properties. Nigella sativa seeds are frequently used in folk medicine in the Middle East and some Asian countries for the promotion of good health and treatment of many ailments. To evaluate the role of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on fertility potential, Pituitary-testicular axis hormones and Testosterone in male rats. 24 male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups; control, group A and group B, each group comprising of 8 rats. Animals in control group received 1 ml of normal saline and treatment groups [A and B] received [gavage] graded doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seeds on a daily basis for 60 days. At the end of treatment period, fertility parameters such as body and reproductive organs weight, sperm motility, viability and count, epididymal sperm reserve [ESR], daily sperm production [DSP], blood testosterone concentration, Gonadotropins levels and fertility index were measured. There was a significant difference in testes and epididymidis weight, sperm count, ESR, DSP, blood testosterone concentration, LH and fertility index in both the lower dose group and the higher group as compared to the control group. The results of this study showed that alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seed especially in higher doses could increase fertility potential, LH and testosterone concentration in male rats.

Sildenafil effect on nitric oxide secretion by normal human endometrial epithelial cells cultured in vitro

Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor of cyclic-guanosine monphosphat-specific phosphodiesterase type 5. It increases intracellular nitric oxide [NO] production in some cells. There are reports on its positive effect on uterine circulation, endometrial thickness, and infertility improvement. Endometrial epithelial cells [EEC] play an important role in embryo attachment and implantation. The present work investigates the effect of sildenafil on human EEC and their NO secretion in vitro. In this experimental in vitro study, endometrial biopsies [n=10] were washed in a phosphate buffered solution [PBS] and digested with collagenase I [2 mg/ml in DMEM/F12 medium] at 37°C for 90 minutes. Epithelial glands were collected by sequential filtration through nylon meshes [70 and 40 micro m pores], respectively. Epithelial glands were then treated with trypsin to obtain individual cells. The cells were counted and divided into four groups: control and 1, 10, and 20 micro M sildenafil concentrations. Cells were cultured for 15 days at 37°C and 5% CO[2]; the media were changed every 3 days, and their supernatants were collected for the NO assay. NO was measured by standard Greiss methods. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA. There was no significant difference between groups in cell count and NO secretion, but the level of NO increased slightly in the experimental groups. The 10 micro M dose showed the highest cell count. EEC morphology changed into long spindle cells in the case groups. Sildenafil [1, 10, and 20 micro M] showed a mild proliferative effect on human EEC numbers, but no significant change was seen in NO production

[Immunohistochemistry of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors]

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor [MT] or inflammatory pseudotumor is a tumoral lesion which can be seen in all age groups and in all internal organs. It is in differential diagnosis with some important neoplasms such as Leiomyosarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, and Sarcomatoid carcinoma. Differentiation between these tumors requires as special diagnostic tool such as Immunohistochemistry [IHC]. This study aimed to identify Immunohistochemical characteristics of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors. 19 cases included in this cross-sectional study. All cases with diagnosis of: "Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor" or " Inflammatory pseudotumor" at pathobiology laboratories of Kermanshah university, Tehran Imam Khomaini Hospital and Institute of Cancer were selected and studied by using IHC stains for CK, EMA, SMA, MSA, Desmin, P53, ALK and Vimentin. Mean age of cases was 40.4 year. 52.6% were male and 47.4% female. Most frequent affected organs were; Stomach [4 cases], Urinary bladder [3 cases], Small Intestine [3 cases], Lung and Mediastinum [3 cases], Omentum [2 cases], Retroperitoneum [1 case], Cervix [1case], Urethral [1 case] and gluteus Maximus Muscle [1 case]. Vimentin [94.7%], MSA [57.9%] and SMA [47.4%] were the most frequent expressed IHC biomarkers in diagnosed tumors respectively. CK is a reliable marker for differentiation between these lesions and Sarcomatoid carcinoma. For differentiation from Leiomyosarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma and Postoperative Spindle Cell nodule, using Desmin is a useful biomarker. It is recommended that "IMT" be used for those lesions that express ALK and/or those that cytogenetic studies reveal a fusion of introducing genes. Other lesions should be classified and reported as "Inflammatory Pseudotumor"