Evaluation of expression and serum concentration of anti-Mullerian hormone as a follicle growth marker following consumption of fennel and flaxseed extract in first-generation mice pups.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the expression and serum level of AMH in first-generation female mice pups following fennel and flaxseed consumption. METHODS: Twenty pregnant NMRI mice were allocated into four groups including control (CTL), fennel (FV), flaxseed (LU) and FV+ LU. Sixty-four female offsprings after lactation period, received the same regimen as their mothers for 56 and 240 days. The ovarian follicles development, serum concentration of AMH, as well as gene and protein expression of AMH were evaluated in the female offsprings at post-natal day 56 (PND56) and 240 (PND240). RESULTS: The number of total growing follicles were raised in the FV group in compression to the all experimental groups. In contrast, LU group showed a marked decrease in their numbers. The highest level of serum AMH was seen in the FV-diet mice, whereas LU negatively affected it. The expression level of AMH also increased in the FV and FV + LU groups, while a reduction was observed in the LU group. As well, IHC data showed that the number of AMH-positive cells in almost ovarian follicles of FV and FV + LU-treated mice was in compared to those of the LU group. CONCLUSIONS: The overall effect of fennel treatment (alone and in combination with flaxseed) on ovary might be maintain primordial follicle storage through increased expression and serum level of AMH.

Hydroalcoholic extract and seed of Foeniculum vulgare improve folliculogenesis and total antioxidant capacity level in F1 female mice offspring.

BACKGROUND: Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) is traditionally suggested for the fertility improvement in Iranian lore due to its antioxidant and phytoestrogen compounds. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of fennel seed and its hydroalcoholic extract on the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and folliculogenesis in offspring exposed to either of the treatments in utero and 56 days after birth (PND 56). METHODS: Pregnant NMRI mice were randomly divided into 5 groups of 7: extract-treated groups received 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day fennel extract (FE), seed-treated groups received 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day fennel seed (FS), and the control group (CTL) received no treatment. The treatments started from pregnancy day 1 and continued until PND 56. Body and right ovary weights and ovary dimensions were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin stained ovary sections were prepared to calculate the proportion of different follicles. The level of TAC in the serums was also measured by fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching. RESULTS: A marked rise in the body and ovary weights of treated mice was observed compared to the CTL group. The mean number of primordial, primary, pre-antral, and pre-ovulatory follicles as well as corpus luteum size in the treated offspring was significantly higher compared to those of CTL offspring. The atretic follicle number was nonsignificantly lower in either of the treatment groups compared with that in the CTL. However, treatment of animals with 500 mg/kg FE showed a more pronounced effect. Animals in FS500, FE500 and FE1000 groups had a significantly higher level of serum TAC compared to the CTL group. CONCLUSIONS: Fennel extract and seed administration in pregnancy and lactation period improve offspring's folliculogenesis. Higher level of TAC in the serum of offspring might have positively altered the folliculogenesis milieu.

Protective effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of foeniculum vulgare and linum usitatissimum on ovarian follicle reserve in the first-generation mouse pups.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of fennel and flaxseed during pre- and post-natal period until puberty and menopause on ovarian follicular reserve (OFR). METHODS: Pregnant NMRI mice received fennel (FV, 500 mg/kg/day), flaxseed (LU, 500 mg/kg/day), LU + FV (500 mg/kg/day) and no treatment was given to the controls. Female pups were studied on post-natal-days 1, 56 and 240 (PND1, 56, 240). Ovary weight and diameters, the number of primordial (PF), atretic (AF) and apoptotic (APF) follicles were determined. The expression of Bcl2 and STAT3 (apoptosis-related-genes), micoRNA-125a-5p, and also serum levels of sex hormones were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: FV and FV + LU groups showed a marked rise in body and ovary weights and diameters as compared to the control group. The number of PF at PND1, PND56, and PND240 increased significantly in the FV and FV + LU groups but decreased in the LU group compared to the control mice. There was a significant reduction in the mean of AF in the FV and FV + LU group and a marked increase in the LU group compared to the controls. Also, more APF were observed in the LU group, whereas less apoptotic follicles were present in the FV group. FSH and estradiol serum levels increased significantly while LH decreased in the FV group. The anti-apoptotic-genes expression and pro-apoptotic microRNA, respectively, increased and decreased in the FV group versus control group. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that fennel alone and in combination with flaxseed could improve OFR during pregnancy, lactation, and afterwards until puberty and menopause.

Preventative Effects of Vitamin E on Testicular Damage and Sperm Parameters in the First-Generation Mice Pups due to Pre- and Postnatal Mancozeb Exposure.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E on mancozeb-induced testis damage of the first-generation pups during intrauterine and lactating periods. Two groups of pregnant NMRI mice received 500 mg/kg mancozeb (MNZ) as MNZ group and 200 mg/kg vitamin E as MNZ+vit.E group before receiving MNZ. In addition, a vehicle and a control group were designed every other day in gestation and lactation periods. The male pups from each group were maintained until adulthood (8-10 W). The left testes and epididymides were removed following the sacrifice of the pups. Then, they were weighed, and sperm parameters including number, viability, motility, and morphology and testis structure were evaluated. A significant decrease occurred in sperm parameters of the mancozeb-treated pups compared to the control and vehicle groups. Treatment with vitamin E reversed the deleterious effects of MNZ to a nearly normal condition. Testis parameters including the weight, gonadosomatic index, seminiferous tubule diameters, and Johnsen's score, as well as the number of germ cells such as spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid, and Sertoli, decreased significantly in the MNZ group, compared to the amount in the control and vehicle groups. Interestingly, the treatment with vitamin E was reversed in most of these parameters. Based on the results, the exposure of pups to mancozeb during pregnancy and lactating periods negatively affects the reproductive system of male pups. However, the coadministration of vitamin E could prevent the deleterious effects of mancozeb on sperm and testis parameters.