Assessing the efficacy of a novel sperm-washing medium enriched with serotonin, L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10: an observational cohort study.

ABSTRACT: This observational cohort study investigated the potential of a novel sperm-washing medium (SWM) enriched with serotonin (5-HT), L-carnitine (L-C), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to enhance sperm motility and reduce DNA damage. It compared this innovative medium (5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM) with two widely used commercial media (SWM 1 and SWM 2). Ninety-eight volunteers from an infertility clinic provided semen samples, which were divided into three aliquots for analysis in different SWMs: group 1, SWM was composed of hydroxyethyl piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), sodium bicarbonate, human serum albumin (HSA), taurine, and gentamicin sulfate (SWM 1); group 2, SWM was composed of HEPES, sodium bicarbonate, and HSA (SWM 2); and group 3, SWM was composed of HEPES-buffered human tubal fluid supplemented with 5-HT, L-C, and CoQ10 (5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM). Sperm motility was categorized as progressive, nonprogressive, or immotile. Apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and DNA fragmentation were also assessed. There were no significant differences in total or progressive sperm motility among the groups. Spermatozoa in group 3 exhibited reduced apoptosis, necrosis, and ROS levels and increased viability. No significant differences were observed in the DNA fragmentation index among groups. The 5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM reduced sperm oxidative stress and apoptosis compared with those of the two commercially available SWMs, suggesting that 5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM could be useful for enhancing in vitro fertilization success rates.

Investigation of Advanced Glycation End Products in Liver, Adipose, and Renal Tissue of Mice on a High-Fat Diet.

Obesity is a complex condition associated with disruptions in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism, linked to increased insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. High levels of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) are associated with a range of chronic diseases, including kidney diseases, diabetic complications, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our study aims to investigate the accumulation of AGEs in the liver, renal and adipose tissues of mice fed a high-fat diet, contributing to a deeper understanding of obesity and its related metabolic disorders. Our study consists of three different groups fed with diets containing 60% and 10% fat. The Experiment 1 group was maintained on their diet for 12 weeks, while the obese 2 and control groups continued their diets for 24 weeks. AGEs in the liver and kidney tissues obtained were measured using the High-performance liquid chromatography grade (HPLC) method. Higher accumulation of AGEs has been observed in kidney tissue compared to adipose and liver tissues (p < 0.05). Moreover, the GO levels were notably higher in liver tissue than in adipose tissue of the D1 and D2 groups (p < 0.0001). Our results suggest that particularly in kidney tissue, increased filtration burden, functional impairment, and receptor interaction due to obesity may be effective. The lower levels of AGEs detected, especially in the obese groups compared to the control, can be attributed to the inability to metabolize AGEs due to tissue damage caused by obesity.

In vitro effects of the combination of serotonin, selenium, zinc, and vitamins D and E supplementation on human sperm motility and reactive oxygen species production.

Infertility affects 15% of all couples worldwide and 50% of cases of infertility are solely due to male factors. A decrease in motility in the semen is considered one of the main factors that is directly related to infertility. The use of supplementation to improve the overall sperm quality has become increasingly popular worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether sperm motility was affected by the combination of serotonin (5-HT), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and vitamins D, and E supplementation. Semen samples were incubated for 75 min at 37°C in medium containing varying concentrations of 5-HT, Se, Zn, vitamin D, and E. 5-HT (200 µM), Se (2 µg/ml), Zn (10 µg/ml), vitamin D (100 nM), and vitamin E (2 mmol) have also been shown to increase progressive sperm motility. Three different mixtures of supplements were also tested for their combined effects on sperm motility and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. While the total motility in the control group was 71.96%, this was found to increase to 82.85% in the first mixture. In contrast the average ROS level was 8.97% in the control group and decreased to 4.23% in the first mixture. Inclusion of a supplement cocktail (5-HT, Se, Zn, vitamins D and E) in sperm processing and culture medium could create an overall improvement in sperm motility while decreasing ROS levels during the incubation period. These molecules may enhance the success of assisted reproduction techniques when present in sperm preparation medium.

Serotonergic neuronal death and concomitant serotonin deficiency curb copulation ability of Drosophila platonic mutants.

Drosophila platonic (plt) males court females, but fail to copulate. Here we show that plt is an allele of scribbler (sbb), a BMP signalling component. sbb knockdown in larvae leads to the loss of approximately eight serotonergic neurons, which express the sex-determinant protein Doublesex (Dsx). Genetic deprivation of serotonin (5-HT) from dsx-expressing neurons results in copulation defects. Thus, sbb+ is developmentally required for the survival of a specific subset of dsx-expressing neurons, which support the normal execution of copulation in adults by providing 5-HT. Our study highlights the conserved involvement of serotonergic neurons in the control of copulatory mechanisms and the key role of BMP signalling in the formation of a sex-specific circuitry.