Effects of energy drinks on biochemical and sperm parameters in Wistar rats

BACKGROUND: The present study evaluates the effects of energy drinks on the reproductive and biochemical parameters of adult male rats. METHODS: A total of 40 male rats (Wistar) were exposed to an energy drink mixed with the drinking water for a period of 120 days. The animals were divided into four groups and exposed to increasing therapeutic doses (DT) of an energy drink, based on allometric extrapolation, resulting in values (mL/day) per animal of 250 g: DT1 2.36 mL, DT3 7.47 mL, and DT6 14.16 mL. The control group (CTRL) consumed water only. During the treatment, the rats were assessed for signs of toxicity. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed and their organs were weighed. Sperm parameters (motility, concentration, and morphology) were evaluated. The biochemical markers alanine eamino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, urea, creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, and creatine kinase MB fraction were measured, in addition to total cholesterol and testosterone. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease (p< 0.05) in the concentration of sperm in the treated groups (DT18.5 ± 0.7; DT3 7.2 ± 0.9; DT6 8.4 ± 0.9) compared to the control group (12.3 ± 1.2). No difference was observed with respect to relative weights of the animals'organs, water consumption, signs of toxicity, behavioral changes, biochemical markers, and sperm motility and morphology. CONCLUSION: The long-term consumption of energy drinks interferes negatively with sperm concentration, without affecting sperm motility and morphology or altering the hepatic, cardiac, or renal functions

Role of spermatic vein inhibin B and LDH activity as predictors of testicular dysfunction in varicocele patients

lnhibin B generated by Sertoli cells provides negative feedback on FSH secretion. In men, inhibin B seems to be physiologically important form of inhibin. Lactic dehydrogenase [LDH], an intracellular enzyme that indicates cellular damage. Varicocele has been associated with infertility and disturbed spermatogenesis. We aimed to investigate the relationship between varicocele, LDH and inhibin B. This study was conducted on forty infertile men with varicocele and twenty age matched control men. LDH and inhibin B were measured in the blood samples of these 40 patients with varicocele which were obtained synchronously from spermatic and peripheral veins during operation and in peripheral vein of control men. Varicocele patients were classified into two groups: group I twenty patients with normal sperm concentration [> 20 million /ml], and group II twenty patients with low sperm concentration [< 20 million /ml]. FSH and testosterone were measured by chemilurninescence while inhibin B was measured by enzyme immunoassay method. LDH enzyme activities were assayed by enzymatic U.V methods. Sperm counts ranged from 3.9 to 60 million/ml, while motility ranged from 15 to 48%. LDH level and inhibin B in spermatic vein were significantly higher than the level in peripheral vein. There was no correlation between sperm counts and LDH level in spermatic vein. lnhibin B concentrations in spermatic vein correlated significantly with serum concentration of FSH [r= -0.63, p < 0.001] and free testosterone [r= 0.34, p<0.05] and also correlated significantly with sperm counts [r= 0.44, p < 0.01] and total testicular volume [r= 0.56, p< 0.01]. lnhibin B showed significant reduction in patients with varicocele than in control men, while LDH showed no significant difference. There were significant increases in inhibin B and LDH in both peripheral vein and spermatic vein of men with sperm count > 20 million /ml when compared with men who had count < 20 million/ml. Significant increase in spermatic vein LDH and inhibin B levels were observed in varicocele. These findings suggest that inhibin B may be offer an improved diagnosis of testicular dysfunction. Consequently, spermatic vein LDH activity and inhibin B level can be predictors of testicular dysfunction in varicocele

Study of spermatozoa and their relationship with fertility in men of Arunachal Pradesh.

172 semen samples were collected from a cross section of the infertile population of North-East India, consisting mainly of tribal people and were analysed and evaluated for different parameters. Significant negative correlations were found between sperm count and motility, sperm count and morphology and between motility and abnormal morphology in this series. The percentage of abnormal morphology was very high and prospective study on the aetiology of this factor in these tribal people is warranted.