The Ameliorative Impact of Cichorium intybus L. Distillate on Reproductive Parameters in Male Mice.

Background: Cichorium intybus L. (Kasni) distillate is widely used in Eastern countries as a safe herbal drink to improve male fertility. However, the potential effects on fertility parameters and possible adverse effects have not been studied experimentally. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of Cichorium intybus L. distillate (CD) on male mice fertility. Methods: In the present study (Shiraz, Iran), 30 male mice (30-35 g) were divided into three groups. 10 mice received distilled water (DW) for five weeks as the control group. Another 10 mice, named group CD1/2, received chicory distillate of 1/2 dilution, and the other 10 mice received chicory distillate of CD1/4 dilution as CD1/4 group, ad libitum for three weeks, and they received DW for two weeks afterward. Experimental mice were sacrificed on day 35, and sperm analysis and sera collection were performed for further investigation of FSH, LH, testosterone, and some liver and kidney function parameters. We used the left testis for stereological analysis, and the right one was excised to investigate the expression of the androgen receptor gene. For statistical analysis using SPSS 18.0, mean±SD values were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Dunnett's analysis as post hoc to compare between groups. In stereological investigations, the Kruskal-Wallis method was used for pairwise comparisons to compare groups. The P value was considered statistically significant at P<0.05. Results: Treatment with CD1/2 resulted in the elevation of serum FSH (P=0.002), LH (P=0.009), testosterone (P=0.034), seminiferous tubule epithelium volume (P=0.029) and length (P=0.028), and Leydig cells number (P=0.009) in comparison with the control group. Administrating CD1/2 (P=0.038) and CD1/4 (P=0.013) significantly increased sperm count compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results revealed that using chicory distillate can improve hormone levels and sperm count in male mice.

Extremely Low Frequency-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) Can Decrease Spermatocyte Count and Motility and Change Testicular Tissue.

Background: Substantial evidence indicates that exposure to extremely low frequency-electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) affects male reproductive system. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term irradiation with ELF-EMF on sperm quality and quantity and testicular structure. Material and Methods: In this case-control study, sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Experimental groups were exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz EMF, 100 µT) for either 1 h/day for 52 days (Group 1), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 3), 1 h/day for 5 days (Group 5), 4 h/day for 52 days (Group 7). Groups 2, 4, 6 and 8 were only sham exposed at durations equal to Groups 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively. Results: Both count and motility of sperms were significantly decreased in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (1 h/day for 52 days, 4 h/day for 52 day, and 4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the sham-exposed groups (P<0.05). Serum testosterone levels showed a significant decrease in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days) compared to the control groups (P<0.05). A significant decrease was observed in the volume of the seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubules epithelium and interstitial tissue in the animals exposed to ELF-EMF for 4 h/day for 5 days. Tubules length was also reduced by 18% in animals exposed to ELF-EMF (4 h/day for 5 days). Conclusion: Our results show that ELF-EMF can reduce spermatocyte count and motility and is able to induce structural changes in testicular tissue.

The Impact of Echium Amoenum Distillate on Naturally Boosting Fertility: Potential Ameliorative Role in Male Mice Reproductive Parameters.

BACKGROUND: Iranian borage, Echium amoenum, is believed to improve reproduction according to folk medicine. Although E. amoenum distillate known as "Aragh Gav-zaban" is widely consumed as a safe and natural remedy, its possible effects on fertility have not yet been scientifically examined. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of borage distillate (BD) on reproductive parameters of male mice. METHODS: In this experimental study, 30 adult male Mus musculus mice (30-35 g) were equally divided into three groups. The control group received distilled water (DW) for five weeks and the other two groups, BD1/2 and BD1/4, received borage distillate of 1/2 dilution (150±2.5 ml/kg/day) and 1/4 dilution (75±1.25 ml/kg/day), respectively, ad libitum for three weeks and DW for 2 weeks. On the day 35, mice were sacrificed, sperm analysis was performed, and sera were collected to evaluate gonadotropins, testosterone, and toxicity parameters. The left testis was excised for stereological study and the right testis was used to evaluate androgen receptor (AR) gene expression. RESULTS: The administration of BD1/2 significantly increased serum FSH (P=0.004), LH (P=0.025), testosterone (P=0.014), the percentage of motile (P=0.011); slow progressive (P=0.001), coiled tail (P<0.001) sperms, and the number of Leydig cells (P=0.008) compared to the control group. Treatment with BD1/4 significantly increased sperm count (P=0.044) and motile sperms percentage (P=0.040) compared to the control group too. The administration of BD revealed no significant effects on toxicity parameters and AR gene expression. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study showed that the consumption of borage distillate, as a safe herbal remedy, improves hormonal and sperm parameters in male mice.

Protective effects of L-carnitine and homogenized testis tissue on the testis and sperm parameters of busulfan-induced infertile male rats.

BACKGROUND: Busulfan(Bus) is a chemotherapy drug that is widely used for cancer treatment. However, administration of busulfan may cause temporary or permanent sterility in male patients. Therefore, reduction of this side is necessary. OBJECTIVE: evaluation of the protective effects of L-carnitine and testis homogenized tissue(THT) on sperm parameters and the testis structure after busulfan treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty rats were divided four groups. Group I (Control) received a single dose of DMSO and 1mL of distilled water (I.P.). Group II (Bus) received a single of busulfan (10 mg/kg) plus 1 ml of the distilled water(I.P.). Group III (Bus+THT) received busulfan plus 1mL of THT daily by oral gavages. Group IV (Bus+L-car) received a single dose of busulfan plus 100 mg/kg/day L-carnitine(I.P.). after 48 dayst, the Stereological technique was used for the estimating volume and diameter of testis, seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue, flagella length, germinal epithelium height and spermatoginic cell number. Semen analysis was used for the assessment of sperm parameters. RESULTS: THT increased volume of testis (6.5%), seminiferous tubule and interstitial tissue volume (6.5%), 6.9% and 11.7% respectively), germinal epithelium height (13%), sperm count (7.5%), and decreased sperm with abnormal morphology (1%) in comparison with the L-carnitine in busulfan treated group. CONCLUSION: It seems the use of L-carnitine and THT decreases side effects of busulfan on the male reproductive system. However, in our study, THT is more effective than L-carnitine and leads to the recovery testis structure and sperm parameters after treatment with busulfan. This article extracted from M.Sc. thesis. (Ashraf Hassanpour).

Curcumin protects the dorsal root ganglion and sciatic nerve after crush in rat.

The goal of this study was to quantify the histological changes in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the sciatic nerve in rats subjected to sciatic nerve crush (SNC) following curcumin treatment. The rats were divided into four groups, each including five animals, and underwent the following intervention: group I: control animals which received olive oil; group II: sham-operated animals whose skin of the posterior thigh was opened, sutured, and received the vehicle; group III: SNC animals which received the vehicle; and group IV: SNC plus curcumin (100 mg/kg/day) solved in the vehicle. On the 28th day, the fifth lumbar DRG and sciatic nerve were removed. Volume of the ganglion, mean cell volume, total volume of DRG cells (A- and B-cells), and total surface of DRG cells, total number, diameter, and area of the myelinated nerve fibers were estimated using stereological methods. Except for the volume of the ganglion, all other parameters were decreased after nerve crush. In curcumin-treated rats, these parameters decreased, but to a lesser extent, and the values were significantly higher than in the non-treated SNC group (p<0.04). It can be concluded that in rats after crush, curcumin has a protective effect on the DRG and sciatic nerve.

Effects of curcumin on the dorsal root ganglion structure and functional recovery after sciatic nerve crush in rat.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin has protective effects on a variety of CNS injury models. Our purpose was to assess the effects of curcumin on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and functional recovery in sciatic nerve crush (SNC) of rats. METHODS: The fifth lumbar DRG was removed 28 days after SNC. Sciatic functional index (SFI) and also the DRG structure were evaluated, using stereological methods to assess the effects of curcumin. RESULTS: The volume and number of A- and B-cells were reduced in the SNC as compared with the sham-operated animals. In curcumin treated rats, the volume decreased but in a lesser extent and it was ∼10% and ∼15% higher on the average in comparison with the non-treated SNC (P<0.04). In curcumin treated rats, the number of cells also decreased but in a lesser extent and it was ∼17% and ∼36% higher in comparison with the non-treated crushed animals (P<0.02). The surface area of A- and B-cells reduced in the SNC and SNC plus curcumin in comparison with the sham-operated rats (P<0.01). The number of satellite cells was reduced in the SNC as compared with the sham-operated animals. In curcumin treated rats, the number of satellite cells decreased but in a lesser extent and the number of satellite cells was ∼19% higher in comparison with the non-treated (P<0.02). SFI test shows that the motor function of the rats treated with curcumin significantly improved at 21st days after sciatic nerve crush. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that curcumin promotes the functional recovery and has a neuroprotective effect on the DRG after sciatic nerve injury in the rats.