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The purpose of this study was to characterize the testicular profile of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats presenting with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in the absence or presence of obesity. To achieve this, testes were collected from 270-day-old male Wistar (n = 15), ZDF nonobese (n = 15), and ZDF obese rats (n = 16). Changes to the testicular structure were quantified morphometrically, while immunocytochemistry was employed to assess caspase-3 activity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, fluctuations of major antioxidant molecules, and the extent of damage to the proteins and lipids were assessed in tissue lysates. Levels of selected interleukins (ILs) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results reveal significant alterations to the testicular structure accompanied by caspase-3 overexpression, particularly in ZDF obese rats. The most notable disruption of the oxidative balance, characterized by ROS overproduction, antioxidant deficiency, protein, and lipid deterioration was recorded in ZDF rats suffering from both DM2 and obesity. Accordingly, the highest concentrations of pro-inflammatory IL-1, IL-6, and IL-18 accompanied by reduced levels of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 were found in testicular tissue collected from ZDF obese rats. This study highlights the vulnerability of male gonads to pathophysiological changes caused by hyperglycemia, which are further exacerbated by excessive adipose tissue.

Bacterial colonization of male reproductive tissues, cells, and fluids, and the subsequent impact of bacteria on the sperm architecture, activity, and fertilizing potential, has recently gained increased attention from the medical and scientific community. Current evidence strongly emphasizes the fact that the presence of bacteria in semen may have dire consequences on the resulting male fertility. Nevertheless, the molecular basis underlying bacteriospermia-associated suboptimal semen quality is sophisticated, multifactorial, and still needs further understanding. Bacterial adhesion and subsequent sperm agglutination and immobilization represent the most direct pathway of sperm–bacterial interactions. Furthermore, the release of bacterial toxins and leukocytic infiltration, associated with a massive outburst of reactive oxygen species, have been repeatedly associated with sperm dysfunction in bacteria-infested semen. This review serves as a summary of the present knowledge on bacteriospermia-associated male subfertility. Furthermore, we strived to outline the currently available methods for assessing bacterial profiles in semen and to outline the most promising strategies for the prevention and/or management of bacteriospermia in practice.

Compounds of natural origin are often used for their beneficial effects on the male endocrine system and the synthesis of steroid biomolecules in testicular tissue. One of such compounds is quercetin (QUE), which belongs to the flavonoid family and is found in a wide range of vegetables, fruits and plant products. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of QUE on the endocrine function of rat testicular fragments under in vitro conditions. Testicular fragments from adult Wistar rats (n=9), cultured in the D-MEM medium with different concentrations of QUE (namely 1, 10 and 100 µmol/L) for 24 h at 37°C (5% CO2), were used in the experiment conducted. Following culture, the medium was separated and the levels of cholesterol (CHOL) and male hormones were measured. CHOL values were quantified spectrophotometrically, whereas the concentrations of androstenedione (ANDRO), dehydropeiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone (TEST) were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial kit. The results obtained indicate that 10 µmol/L QUE significantly increased (P

This study was designed to investigate chemical and antioxidant properties, as well as the antimicrobial and antibiofilm behaviour of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil (CCEO). MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper mass spectrometry was applied to evaluate the biofilms of Stenotrophonomonas maltophilia and Bacillus subtilis, while the antibiofilm ability of CCEO was assessed on wooden and glass surfaces. The antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method, microdilution method, and vapour phase for two biofilm-producing bacteria and three Penicillium spp. were used. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties were assessed using the agar microdilution protocol. The vapour phase of Penicillium citrinum, P. crustosum, P. expansum, S. maltophilia, and B. subtilis on bread, carrot, potato, sweet potato, and apple in situ was studied. Specific molecular variations related to the biofilm formation and genetic analogies were evaluated with MSP spectra dendrograms of S. maltophilia and B. subtilis profiles were grown on different days. The results of disc diffusion and broth diffusion methods showed that CCEO was strongly effective against all tested microorganisms and the vapour phase method was effective and active against all Penicillium spp., but not strongly effective against bacteria in food preservation of food matrices.

The aim of our study was evaluation of potential antioxidant effects of marigold (Calendula officinalis) extract and assessment of its in vitro impact on the selected quality parameters of bovine spermatozoa. Marigold is medicinal herb from the family Asteraceae native to southern Europe, and it commonly used in pharmacology and medicine. Its well-known positive properties include antioxidant, antibacterial, antiflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, antihelmintic and wound-healing activities. In this study, the flower extracts were subjected to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which identified especially phenolic acids (rosmarinic and chlorogenic acids) and polyphenols (rutin, kaempferol, resveratrol, quercetin and apigenin). These substances are known for their antioxidant activity and protective effects against oxidative stress. For our experiments, 10 samples of semen from sexually mature Holstein bulls were collected on a single day by using an artificial vagina, diluted in physiological saline solution and exposed to solutions with different concentration of marigold flower extract (75, 150 and 300 µg/mL). Selected quality parameters (motility, mitochondrial activity, production of reactive oxygen species – ROS, protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation – LPO) were analyzed after 0, 2 and 24 hours of in vitro culture. The motility evaluation was performed by using the computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) method. This method revealed that 75 and 150 µg/mL extract had positive effects and increased the motility (P

Kaempferol (KAE) is a natural flavonoid with powerful reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties and beneficial effects on ex vivo sperm functionality. In this paper, we studied the ability of KAE to prevent or ameliorate structural, functional or oxidative damage to frozen–thawed bovine spermatozoa. The analysis focused on conventional sperm quality characteristics prior to or following thermoresistance tests, namely the oxidative profile of semen alongside sperm capacitation patterns, and the levels of key proteins involved in capacitation signaling. Semen samples obtained from 30 stud bulls were frozen in the presence of 12.5, 25 or 50 μM KAE and compared to native ejaculates (negative control—CtrlN) as well as semen samples cryopreserved in the absence of KAE (positive control—CtrlC). A significant post-thermoresistance test maintenance of the sperm motility (p < 0.001), membrane (p < 0.001) and acrosome integrity (p < 0.001), mitochondrial activity (p < 0.001) and DNA integrity (p < 0.001) was observed following supplementation with all KAE doses in comparison to CtrlC. Experimental groups supplemented with all KAE doses presented a significantly lower proportion of prematurely capacitated spermatozoa (p < 0.001) when compared with CtrlC. A significant decrease in the levels of the superoxide radical was recorded following administration of 12.5 (p < 0.05) and 25 μM KAE (p < 0.01). At the same time, supplementation with 25 μM KAE in the cryopreservation medium led to a significant stabilization of the activity of Mg2+-ATPase (p < 0.05) and Na+/K+-ATPase (p < 0.0001) in comparison to CtrlC. Western blot analysis revealed that supplementation with 25 μM KAE in the cryopreservation medium prevented the loss of the protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC), which are intricately involved in the process of sperm activation. In conclusion, we may speculate that KAE is particularly efficient in the protection of sperm metabolism during the cryopreservation process through its ability to promote energy synthesis while quenching excessive ROS and to protect enzymes involved in the process of sperm capacitation and hyperactivation. These properties may provide supplementary protection to spermatozoa undergoing the freeze–thaw process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the potential efficiency of selected biologically active substances on the motility behavior of rabbit spermatozoa subjected to in vitro induced E. faecalis contamination. Semen samples were collected from 10 male rabbits and the presence of E. faecalis was confirmed using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. For the in vitro experiments rabbit spermatozoa were resuspended in the presence of 0,3 McF E. faecalis and different concentrations of selected biomolecules (resveratrol - RES, quercetin - QUE, curcumin - CUR, epicatechin - EPI, isoquercitrin - IZO). Sperm motility was assessed using the computer-aided sperm analysis at 0h, 2h, 4h, 6h and 8h. The presence of E. faecalis significantly decreased the motility (P

This study was designed to describe and compare the time- and dose-dependent in vitro effects of selected trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol-DON, zearalenone-ZEA and T-2 toxin) on the motility behavior of rabbit spermatozoa. The rabbit semen was diluted in PBS supplemented with different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 50, 100 μmol/L) of DON, ZEA or T-2 while the Control carried no mycotoxin. At culture times of 0h, 2h, 4h and 8h, the spermatozoa motility was assessed using the computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) with the help of the IDENT stain and fluorescent illumination. The motility assessment revealed different behavior patterns, specific and unique to each of the studied mycotoxins. DON exhibited the ability to temporarily increase the sperm motility, followed by its rapid decline at later stages of the experiment (P

This editorial titled "Male fertility: lessons learnt from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic" discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on male fertility. It highlights studies that have examined the relationship between the virus and male reproductive health, including findings that suggest the presence of the virus in semen samples and adverse effects on semen parameters and hormone profiles in infected men. The editorial emphasizes the need for ongoing research and a comprehensive approach to address the complexities of male reproductive health during and after the pandemic. The document also references two scientific studies related to COVID-19, one that found no evidence of the virus in semen samples and another that examined the pathological findings in the testes of COVID-19 patients. These studies provide valuable insights into the impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health. [Extracted from the article]