Protective effect of selenium and vitamin C on the fertility of male rats given penconazole.

OBJECTIVE: Penconazole is used in agriculture and human and veterinary medicine applications. It has been included in the acute toxicity hazard category by the WHO. This study examines the protective effect of selenium and vitamin C on the fertility of male rats given penconazole. METHODS: Nine groups of rats were given penconazole at concentrations of 50 and 75 mg/ml and selenium and vitamin C at concentrations of 0.5 and 100 mg/ml, respectively. Serum levels of LH and FSH were measured with ELISA kits; ß-actin, GPX4, AQP7, PRM2, and BAX gene expression was evaluated with real-time PCR performed on the left testis of each rat. RESULTS: LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were lower in the groups given penconazole (50 and 75 mg/kg). Histopathology showed that the groups given penconazole had the lowest number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes; these numbers were greater in the groups receiving penconazole together with selenium or vitamin C; and the highest counts were observed in separate groups given Se and vitamin C. GPX4, AQP7, PRM2 and BAX gene expression in the groups receiving penconazole was different from controls and was modulated by treatment with selenium or vitamin C. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that antioxidant compounds have a strengthening effect on the reproductive system and can mitigate the destructive effects of chemical fungicides.

First Trimester Screening Tests Pregnancy and Trisomy 13 Syndrome, Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Trisomy 13 (T13) and sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) are the vital causes of congenital malformations. This study was performed to identify the T13 and SCA with screening tests in the first trimester of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, first-trimester combined screening was conducted on 2100 pregnant women referred to Narges Genetics Laboratory, Ahvaz, Iran. Evaluating the first trimester screening tests, including nuchal translucency (NT), crown-rump length (CRL) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), and free beta of human chorionic gonadotropin (fßhCG) was performed. For a definitive diagnosis of T13 and SCA syndrome, fetal karyotype was evaluated. RESULTS: The average NT and CRL in high-risk group for T13 were 5.96 mm and 61.7 mm respectively and in high-risk groups for SCA were 3.7 mm and 75.9 mm, respectively. Significant correlation was observed among NT, CRL and T13, SCA (P<0.05). The average serum fßhCG and PAAP-A levels in high-risk group for T13 were 0.42 and 0.31, respectively. Significant correlation was observed between decrease fßhCG, PAPP-A and T13 levels and increase fßhCG levels and SCA levels (P<0.05). No Significant correlation was observed between PAPP-A levels and SCA levels (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Using special software and karyotype testing, the prenatal screening tests based on the maternal age and gestational age in the first trimester of pregnancy may determine the major risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.