RESUMEN
Background: Chlorpyrifos [CPF], an organophosphate pesticide, is widely used in farms in order to preserve crops and fruits. Previous studies have shown that CPF exposure might cause chronic toxicity in male genital system. The present study investigated the protective effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine [NAC], a potent antioxidant against testicular toxicity of CPF in male mice
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 42 adult male mice were divided into seven groups, CPF low [0.5 mg/kg.b.w] and high [5 mg/kg.b.w] doses groups, NAC group [35 mg/kg.b.w], NAC+CPF 0/5 mg/kg.b.w, NAC+CPF 5 mg/kg.b.w, dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO, 0.75% solution mg/kg.b.w] and control group. All treatment were done intraperitoneally. Treatment was conducted for four consecutive weeks [five days each week]. However NAC was injected to NAC+CPF groups five days before initiation of the treatment procedure. One week after the last injection, mice were sacrificed using anesthetic gas to evaluate alterations in testicular histology and sperm parameters
Results: Seminiferous tubules area and diameter were significantly diminished in the group treated with 5 mg/kg CPF [P<0.05]. CPF also statistically reduced sperm parameters [count and motility] and damaged sperm morphology] at both doses [P<0.05]. However, NAC significantly improved spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatid cell counts as well as sperm parameters in mice treated with both CPF concentrations [P<0.05]
Conclusion: According to our results, NAC may significantly ameliorate CPF-induced damages to spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids cell counts and sperm parameters
RESUMEN
Background: bone morphogenetic protein 4 [BMP4] is a significant signaling molecule that involves in initiating of differentiation and performs multifunctional effects on embryonic stem cells [ESCs] and embryos
Objective: the goal of the present study was to evaluate an in vitro differentiation model of mouse embryonic stem cells into germ cells, using BMP4
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, we used Oct4-GFP mouse ESCs to form embryoid body [EB] aggregations for two days. Then, single cells from EB were cultured for four days with BMP4. Using MTT assay and gene expression levels for evaluation of Mvh and Riken by real-time RT-PCR of six concentrations, 12.5 ng/ ml BMP4 was determined as an optimized dose. Then, the expression level of Fkbp6, Mov10l1, 4930432K21Rik, Tex13, Mvh, Scp3, Stra8, Oct4 were evaluated. Flow cytometry and immunostaning were used to confirm the findings of the real-time RT-PCR
Results: in the +BMP4 group, the genes encoding Riken [p
Conclusion: down-regulation of Oct4, expression of germ cells genes and meiosis markers expression raise this hypothesis that ESCs were differentiated by BMP4, and may be introduced into the first meiosis as germ cell-like cells
RESUMEN
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fetal mouse lung tissue co-culture on in vitro maturation [IVM] of mouse immature oocytes
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, germinal vesicle [GV] oocytes from ovaries of a group of 25 female mice, 6-8 weeks of age, were dissected after being stimulated by 7.5 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG] through an intraperitoneal [IP] injection. The fetal lung tissues were then prepared and cultured individually. A total number of 300 oocytes were cultured in the following three groups for 24 hours: control group [n=100] containing only base medium, group I [n=100] containing base medium co-cultured with 11.5- to 12.5-day old fetal mouse lung tissues, and group II [n=100] containing base medium co-cultured with 12.5- to 13.5-day old fetal mouse lung tissues. The proportion of GV and metaphase ? [MI] oocytes matured into M?? oocytes were compared among the three groups using analysis of variance [ANOVA]. Correlation test were also used to evaluate the successful rate of IVM oocytes
Results: The proportions of GV oocytes reaching M?? stage were 46, 65, and 56%, in control, I and II groups, respectively [P<0.05]. The percentage of the oocytes remaining at the GV stage were higher in control group as compared with two treatment groups [P<0.05]
Conclusion: This study indicated that fetal mouse lung tissue co-culture method increased the percentage of GV oocytes reaching MII stage