Oxidative stress status and sperm DNA fragmentation in fertile and infertile men.

Evidence suggests that disturbing the balance between reactive oxygen species levels and antioxidant contents in seminal plasma leads to oxidative stress resulting in male infertility. This study was carried out to identifying clinical significance of seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation in treatment strategies of male infertility in southwest Iran. Sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation and activity of antioxidant enzymes were assessed in fertile (n = 105) and infertile (n = 112) men. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in seminal plasma were found to be higher significantly (p < .001) in patients. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in seminal plasma were significantly (p < .001) lower in infertile men. Significant negative correlations were observed between MDA levels and sperm motility and normal morphology. Spermatozoa with fragmented DNA were higher (p < .001) in infertile men and significantly correlated with MDA levels and SOD and GPx activities. MDA of 4.2 nmol/ml, SOD of 4.89 U/ml and GPx of 329.6 mU/ml were optimum cut-off limits to discriminate infertile patients from fertile men. The results show the leading role of oxidative stress in aetiology of male infertility in southwest Iran and indicate that evaluation of seminal antioxidant status and DNA integrity can be helpful in men attending infertility clinics during fertility assessment.

Protective effects of Fumaria parviflora L. on lead-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.

In recent years, the clinical importance of herbal drugs has received considerable attention in reducing free radical-induced tissue injury. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in lead toxicity that causes reproductive system failure in both human and animals. Fumaria parviflora L., a traditional herb, has been used to cure various ailments in Persian folk medicine. This study was carried out to investigate whether ethanolic extract of F. parviflora leaves could protect the male rats against lead-induced testicular oxidative stress. Adult Wistar rats were treated with 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water with or without 200 mg kg day(-1) F. parviflora extract via gavage for 70 days. Lead acetate treatment resulted in significant reduction in testis weight, seminiferous tubules diameter, epididymal sperm count, serum testosterone level, testicular content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Moreover, significant elevation was observed in content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in lead-treated rats. However, co-administration of F. parviflora extract showed a significant increase in selected reproductive parameters in lead-treated rats. The results indicated that ethanolic extract of F. parviflora leaves has a potential to restore the suppressed reproduction associated with lead exposure and prevented lead-induced testicular toxicity in male Wistar rats.

Stereological analysis of Wistar rat testis during early post-natal development.

Quantitative analysis of testis structure was performed during early post-natal development in Wistar rats. For this purpose, at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 60 and 90 days after birth, weights and volumes of testes were recorded and fixed in Bouin's solution. For stereological studies, 5-µm paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin. Relative and then absolute volumes of seminiferous tubules, germinal epithelium, seminiferous tubuli lumina and interstitial tissue were estimated by point-counting method. The results showed that weight and volume of testis in rats increase 75- and 86.28-fold during post-natal development, respectively. The greatest growth rate (2.96-fold) of testis was observed between days 35 and 42. Also, diameter of seminiferous tubules increased significantly (P<0.001) between different ages and represented 5.55-fold increase during post-natal development. The percentage volume of tubular tissue increased 1.4-fold between birth and 90 days of age. Interstitial tissue formed 36.68±0.90% of testicular parenchyma at birth. This percentage decreased progressively during post-natal development until 90 (9.00±0.55%) days of age. Lumen of seminiferous tubules was recognized at day 28, and its relative volume increased with age. This study provides systematic data on the stereological characteristics of developing Wistar rat testis.