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Studies have reported the adverse effects of hyperuricemia on male reproduction, but the mechanism is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of hyperuricemia on reproductive system damage in male rats. The rats were divided into a control group and a model group. Rats were given hypoxanthine and potassium oxonate dissolved in 0.5% (w/v) sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution to induce the hyperuricemia (HUA) model. After 6 weeks, the blood, testis, and epididymis tissues of the anesthetized rats were collected for further experiments and analysis. Compared with the control rats, the serum uric acid of HUA rats was significantly increased, and the serum testosterone, sperm count, and motility were significantly decreased. The protein expression of testosterone-related molecules CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, and StAR was downregulated in the testis of HUA rats. The protein expression of blood–testis barrier (BTB) related molecules ZO-1 and Connexin43 was downregulated in the testis of HUA rats. Compared with the control group, the zinc content and zinc-containing enzymes (ALP and LDH) were decreased, and the mRNA and protein expression of zinc transporters (ZnT4 and ZIP7) were downregulated in the testis of HUA rats. Furthermore, the level of MDA increased and the activities of CAT, GSH-PX, and SOD decreased in the testicular tissue of HUA rats. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the testis of HUA rats was activated. However, there was no significant change in the protein expression of autophagy associated molecules LC3, Beclin1, and ATG5 in the testis of HUA rats. Thus, the conclusion is that hyperuricemia can lead to the destruction of BTB, impaired testosterone synthesis, and decreased sperm count and motility in male rats, mainly by inducing zinc homeostasis imbalance and oxidative stress, rather than autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High altitude (HA) poses various dangers to living organisms, the most serious of which are oxidative stress and its accompanying metabolic problems, as well as hypoxia and its associated metabolic abnormalities. Acrylamide is a poisonous chemical produced under the oxidative stress as a result of intracellular reactive oxygen species formation and toxicity. Heating carbohydrates-rich meals give acrylamide that is widely used in the industry. The precise mechanism of acrylamide toxicity is unknown. The current study aimed to examine the impacts of Taify pomegranate juice (TPJ) from Taif area (Punica granatum L.) on acrylamide-induced testicular stress and dysfunction. Twenty four male of adult Wistar rats, were divided into four groups: Group 1 was a negative-control received only saline; Group 2 was a positive-control that received orally acrylamide (20 mg/kg/bw) for consecutive 4 weeks; and Group 3 received TPJ; 2 mL/kg/bw, orally for 4 weeks. Rats in Group 4 received pomegranate juice and acrylamide as described in Groups 2 and 3, with the TPJ delivered 1 week before the acrylamide. Acrylamide elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)). Moreover, acrylamide decreased concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone and altered semen characteristics (decreased sperm viability and concentration, and increased sperm abnormalities). Acrylamide increased malondialdehyde levels (MDA), while it decreased antioxidant activities (superoxide dismutase; SOD and reduced glutathione; GSH). The inflammation associated cytokines were restored by TPJ administration to acrylamide rats. GSH and SOD were significantly recovered to near control levels in TPJ plus acrylamide group compared to acrylamide-administered rats. TPJ preadministration to rats restored semen profiles, alteration in testis pathology, and normalized the changes on the male reproductive hormones affected by acrylamide. Furthermore, the TPJ reversed the upregulation in caspases-3 and the decrease in B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) gene expressions affected by acrylamide, with significant upregulation of hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid-2 (Nrf2) mRNA expression. These findings collectively revealed that TPJ possesses anti-inflammatory, potent antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effect against acrylamide-induced testicular damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to arsenic is linked to a wide range of diseases, in particular male reproductive toxicities. Trametes versicolor is a traditional medicinal fungus with a remarkable potential for antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the ameliorating effects of water and methanol extracts of T. versicolor on arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicities via the abrogation of oxidative stress. The mice were divided as follows: control: normal saline, As: arsenic (15 mg/kg), WE: water extract (400 mg/kg), ME: methanol extract (400 mg/kg), As + WE: arsenic (15 mg/kg) + water extract (100, 200, 400 mg/kg), As + ME: arsenic (15 mg/kg) + methanol extract (100, 200, 400 mg/kg), and positive control: arsenic (15 mg/kg) + vitamin C (500 mg/kg). Animals were treated via the intraperitoneal route. About 24 hr later, the mice were euthanized, and oxidative stress parameters (reactive oxygen species [ROS], lipid peroxidation, glutathione concentration, protein carbonylation, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activity), histopathological changes and sperm parameters (count, motility, and morphology) were examined in the testicular tissue. Arsenic caused significant pathological changes in the testicular tissue and sperm morphology and significantly reduced sperm count and motility. Moreover, arsenic mediated oxidative stress via significant increases in ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl content, as well as significant depletion in glutathione concentration and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Although, coadministration of water and methanol extracts of T. versicolor at 200 and 400 mg/kg counteracted arsenic-induced oxidative and histopathological damages and improved sperm parameters. Our study indicated that T. versicolor ameliorated arsenic-induced testis toxicity and sperm dysfunction via attenuation of oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is one of the major crosstalk between diabetes and erectile dysfunction. Tropical almond is a natural antioxidant that works in a way to neutralize the effect of reactive oxygen species in disease management. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the effects of tropical almond on the nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor‐2 (nrf‐2) level and smooth muscle/collagen ratio, as well as other biochemical indices in the penile tissue of diabetic rats. Six non‐diabetic male rats (control) and 36 diabetic male rats were divided into six groups (n = 6). The diabetic male rats were placed on almond‐supplemented diets except for the diabetic control group. Thereafter, the rats were sacrificed penile tissues were excised for nrf‐2, smooth muscle/collagen ratio, and other biochemical analyses. The results revealed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in nrf‐2 level, smooth muscle/collagen ratio, and total thiol level, with a concomitant increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in comparison to the control group. Interestingly, therapy with diets high in almond fruits significantly enhances the nrf‐2 level, smooth muscle/collagen ratio, and total thiol level in comparison with the untreated diabetic group. In addition, dietary inclusion of almond fruits significantly reduced acetylcholinesterase activity in diabetic male rats. Therefore, the preventive management with almond fruits could be beneficial in combating erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes. The activities of almond fruits reported in this study could be due to their antioxidant property and the inherent phytoconstituents (amino acids, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training, Phoenix dactylifera extract, and testosterone enanthate injection on luteinizing hormone receptor, claudin‐1, cingulin, and zonula occludens in the prostate tissues of adult rats. 30 male rats were divided into six groups: (1) control, (2) resistance training, (3) Phoenix dactylifera extract, (4) testosterone enanthate, (5) resistance training+Phoenix dactylifera extract, and (6) resistance training + testosterone enanthate. After completing the treatments and resistance training, all rats were sacrificed via anaesthesia. The results showed that resistance training, Phoenix dactylifera, and testosterone enanthate significantly increased the luteinizing hormone receptor, claudin‐1, cingulin, and zonula occludens gene expression levels in the prostate. The resistance training treatment, along with Phoenix dactylifera + testosterone enanthate, exerted synergic effects on the prostate luteinizing hormone receptor levels and claudin‐1 gene expression. In conclusion, Phoenix dactylifera, as a natural compound with fewer side effects than testosterone injection, can be used to enhance athletic performance. Besides, considering the potential benefits of Phoenix dactylifera, it can be considered in the treatment of testosterone deficiency; however, further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidants are used to minimize oxidative stress during liquid semen storage. The main aim of current study was to elucidate effect of supplementing melatonin and canthaxanthin in Tris‐based extender could enhance seminal quality of ram at 4°C up to 72 h. A total of 48 ejaculates were collected from breeding Magra rams (n = 8) and were preliminarily subjected for various macroscopic and microscopic semen evaluation tests. These ejaculates were pooled and divided into three equal aliquots. Two aliquots were diluted (1:10) using extender encompassing final concentration of 1mM melatonin and 25 µM canthaxanthin and stored at 4°C. Third aliquot with extender only was kept as control. Structural and functional seminal changes were observed at different time points of preservation. Results revealed that mean values for progressive sperm motility, viability and total antioxidant capacity were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in melatonin group while hypo‐osmotic swelling test was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in canthaxanthin group. Total sperm abnormalities and malondialdehyde levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in both treatment groups indicating their antioxidant efficacy in protection of spermatozoa from oxidative stress. Results of study indicated that supplementation of these antioxidants to ram semen could be used to enhance storage life of liquid semen at 4°C up to 72 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of Lepidium draba L. (L. draba) extract on oxymetholone (OM)‐induced testicular injury in rat. Six groups of n = 5 adult male rats were used as; 1: control, 2: OM (5 mg/kg OM orally), 3, 4 and 5: L. draba extract (100, 200 and 400 mg kg−1 day−1) +OM (5 mg kg−1 day−1 OM) and 6:400 mg/kg/d L. draba extract for 30 days. Serum testosterone (T), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH), inflammatory cytokines (IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α, IL‐1β), oxidative stress (OS) indicators [superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and nitric oxide (NO)], apoptotic related genes (Bcl‐2, p53, caspase‐3 (c3) and Bax) were investigated. OM significantly increased the serum levels of T, proinflammatory cytokines and pro‐apoptotic genes expression. Also, it decreased LH and FSH, sperm viability, count and motility. L. draba extract especially could markedly normalise the serum levels of LH and FSH, and T, restore serum antioxidant enzymes and suppressed the pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Also, germ cells apoptosis was inhibited against via downregulating the p53, c3, Bax and upregulating Bcl‐2. It concluded that L. draba extract could protect the function and structure of testis against OM‐induced testicular toxicity via its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caesalpinia bonduc is among the traditionally used plant in Benin, for its enhancement of male sexual activity. This study was undertaken to investigate the potential effect of C. bonduc root extracts on sexual behaviour of male Wistar rats. For that, thirty‐six rats were allocated into six groups and orally treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (control), Sildenafil citrate (standard) and C. bonduc root extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol) orally for twenty‐eight days. Sexual behaviour parameters such as intromission frequency, intromission latency, mount latency and mount frequency were evaluated on day 0, 14 and 28. After the study completion, the body and reproductive organ weights as well as testicular histology and testosterone level were recorded. C. bonduc root extracts treatments had no significant effect on the body weight of rats. Enhancement in sexual behaviour was observed in ethanolic extract treated rats. An significant increase in mount frequency and intromission frequency as well as significant reduction in mount latency and intromission latency were noticed for ethanolic extract. The same extract caused an improvement in testosterone levels, relative testes weight and histological architecture. The findings demonstrate the aphrodisiac potential of C. bonduc root and lend support to the folkloric use as aphrodisiac. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With interest, we read the original article " I Costus afer i leaf extract protects against testicle damage caused by cyclosporine A in adult male Wistar rats through an antioxidant mechanism".(Khattab & Mansoury, 2020) The authors demonstrated the protective effect of I C. afer i leaf extract against cyclosporine A-induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats by measuring sperm parameters, histopathological study, sexual hormone levels, antioxidant level and lipid peroxidation parameters in testicular tissue. Overall, this interesting article presents the protective effects of I Costus afer i leaf extracts against cyclosporine A-induced testicular dysfunction in male Wistar rat's further needs necessary amendments. [Extracted from the article]