Improvement of fertility parameters with tribulus terrestris and anacyclus pyrethrum treatment in male rats

ABSTRACT Objective Anacyclus Pyrethrum (AP) and Tribulus Terrestris (TT) have been reported as male infertility treatment in several studies; however, in Iranian traditional medicine these two plants are prescribed simultaneously. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of AP and TT extracts both separately and simultaneously on the male Wistar rat fertility parameters. Materials and Methods 32 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: Control, TT, AP, and AT treated groups. Treatment continued for 25 days and rats were weighed daily. Their testes were dissected for histological studies. Sperm analysis including sperm count, viability and motility were performed. Serum was obtained to evaluate testosterone, LH and FSH levels. Histological studies were conducted to study Leydig, and Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatid cell numbers, and to measure seminiferous diameter and epithelium thickness. Results Sperm count increased in all the treatment groups. Sperm viability and motility in AT and AP groups were elevated. TT and AT groups showed significantly increased testosterone level compared to control group (P=004, P=0.000, respectively) and TT, AP and AT treatment groups showed increased LH level (P=0.002, P=0.03 and P=0.000, respectively) compared to control, while only AT group showed increased FSH (p=0.006) compared to control. Histological studies showed significant increase of spermatogonia, Leydig and Sertoli cell numbers and epithelial thickness in AT group compared to other groups. All the treatment groups had higher number of Leydig, spermatogonia and spermatid cells. Conclusion TT and AP improved sexual parameters; however, their simultaneous administration had higher improving effects on studied parameters.

Impact of body mass index, age and varicocele on reproductive hormone profile from elderly men

ABSTRACT Objectives: To study the impact of obesity, age and varicocele on sexual hormones fof adult and elderly men. Materials and Methods: 875 men who were screened for prostate cancer were enrolled in this study. Data recorded comprised age, body mass index (BMI), serum levels of total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH). Patients were divided in groups according to their BMI in underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese grades 1, 2 or 3. First, it was studied the association between age, BMI, and hormone profile. Then, clinical varicocele was evaluated in 298 patients to assess its correlation to the others parameters. Results: Obese patients had lower levels of TT, FT and SHBG (p<0.001) compared to underweight or normal weight patients. There were no differences in age (p=0.113), FSH serum levels (p=0.863) and LH serum levels (p=0.218) between obese and non-obese patients. Obese grade 3 had lower levels of TT and FT compared to obese grade 1 and 2 (p<0.05). There was no difference in the SHBG levels (p=0.120) among obese patients. There was no association between varicocele and BMI; and varicocele did not impact on testosterone or SHBG levels. Conclusions: Men with higher BMI have a lower serum level of TT, FT and SHBG. The presence of clinical varicocele as well as its grade has no impact on hormone profile in elderly men.

Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin on the normal testicular tissue of rats

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the testicular tissue of young male rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were assigned to groups (10 rats/group).Control Group received subcutaneous saline solution; Group 1 received hCG 50UI/Kg/dose; and Group 2 received hCG 100UI/Kg/dose, daily for 15 days. Half was submitted to bilateral orchiectomy on the 16th day and the other half 45 days after the beginning of the hormone application. Testicles were weighed, measured and has their volumes determined. The diameter of the tubules and the thickness of the seminiferous epithelium were measured. RESULTS: Control Group presented the highest values of testicles volume and weight. Rats in the Control presented normal histology. In G1 and G2 atrophy of the seminiferous tubules, apoptosis of germ cells and multinucleated giant cells were observed. Comparing groups, in the first operation Control rats had higher diameter values. In the second operation, the Control was only different from G1. As for thickness, Control had higher values in both operations. Comparing the time of operation, the diameter values were higher in G1 and G2 in the second operation. For all groups, the thickness of the epithelium was higher in the second operation. CONCLUSIONS: Human chorionic gonadotropin is gonadotoxic in rats. This effect was temporary and can affect reproductive potential. The total recovery of testicular damage in the studied range could not be proved, and the effects were not dose-dependent. .

A report of familial male-limited precocious puberty caused by a germ-line heterozygous mutation (M398T) in luteinizing hormone receptor gene / 中华内科杂志

Objective To clarify the possible gene mutations in luteinizing hormone(LH) receptor gene in a boy with LH independent precocious puberty and probe the mechanism the of diseases caused by LH receptor activating mutations. Methods ( 1 ) Describe the clinical manifestations and laboratory data in a 5-year-old boy with LH independent precocious puberty. (2) Peripheral leukocytes were collected from the proband, his parents and other 20 normal puberty developed males. PCR and direct DNA sequence of 11 exons in LH receptors gene were conducted. Results (1) The proband was diagnosed to have LH independent precocious puberty according to the clinical symptoms and the laboratory tests. (2) A germ-line heterozygous point mutation in the 11 exon of LH receptor gene was found in the proband and his mother:c1193 T→C leading to amino acid change with M398T, which causes consecutively an activation of the LH receptor. (3) Other nucleotide changes in the proband and other normal males include c935 A→ G (N312S) and c1065 T→C(same sense mutation). Conclusions (1) A germ-line heterozygous point mutation in the LH receptor gene with M398T leads to consecutively activation of the LH receptor and LH independent precocious puberty. (2) The same point mutation does not have any influence on the puberty development, menstruation and productive functions of the proband's mother. (3) The LH receptor gene has possible polymorphism in the Han ethnic population.

Effects of Flavonoids of Semen Cuscutae on Reproductive Function of Animals / 中药新药与临床药理

Semen Cuscutae is a kidney-essence invigorating Chinese drug which is widely used in the clinic. In this study, the effects of the flavonoids extracted from Semen Cuscutae (FSC) on the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonads axis in animals was investigated. The results showed that FSC can increase the weight of uterus and promoted the cornification of vaginal epithelial cells in bilateral ovariectomized mice, which suggested that FSC may have estrogen-like activity. In normal female rats, it increased the weight of pituitary, ovary and uterus, but did not increase plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) level. The binding capacity of ovary to 125 I-HCG/LH receptor was significantly elevated the reactivity of luteinizing-releasing hormone (LRH) was increased, and the LRH-induced LH secretion was enhanced in ovariectomized rats. In immature male mice, FSC increased the weight of epididymis and testis, and stimulated HCG-induced secretion of testosterone in short-term cultured rat Leydig cells. It is suggested that FSC can improve the functions of reproductive and endocrine system.