Andrologia最新文献

{"title":"Shilajit Mitigates Diabetes-Induced Testicular Dysfunction in Mice: A Modulation in Insulin Sensitivity, Germ Cell-Junctional Dynamics, and Oxido-Apoptotic Status","authors":"Arti Rajpoot,&nbsp;Ajai Kumar Pandey,&nbsp;Vikas Kumar Roy,&nbsp;Raghav Kumar Mishra","doi":"10.1155/and/5517176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/5517176","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that causes testicular damage by high oxidative stress, rendering 35% of afflicted people infertile. Shilajit is a traditional Indian medicine known for its antioxidant, antidiabetic, and aphrodisiac properties. However, its effectiveness on diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction remains unclear. Therefore, the current investigation aimed to determine whether Shilajit could restore testicular functions in diabetic mice. Two days postpartum male Parkes mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (90 mg/kg BW) to induce diabetes. Three months postinjection, the effects of daily Shilajit (100 and 200 mg/kg BW) treatment were evaluated for one spermatogenic cycle in adult diabetic mice, using Empagliflozin (10 mg/kg BW) as a positive control. In STZ-induced diabetic mice, testicular functions were compromised due to disruptions in testosterone biosynthesis, changes in germ-cell ratios, and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Shilajit restored glycemic status in diabetic mice by significantly decreasing serum glucose, insulin level, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value while increasing insulin sensitivity. These effects were comparable to those observed with conventional antidiabetic medication Empagliflozin. Further, Shilajit stimulates steroidogenesis and germ cell dynamics of diabetic mice by increasing the activity of StAR, 3<i>β</i>-HSD, and 17<i>β</i>-HSD enzymes and 1C:2C, 4C:S-Ph, and 1C:4C germ cell ratios, respectively. Shilajit also improves blood–testis barrier (BTB) functioning by increasing expression of ZO-1, Connexin-43, N-Cadherin, and <i>β</i>-catenin as well as oxidative status and apoptosis by modulating NF-E2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) signaling and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Subsequently, Shilajit improved the histoarchitecture of testis and epididymis in diabetic mice and recovered both qualitative and quantitative sperm parameters, as seen by higher percentages of sperm motility, viability, and normal sperm morphology as well as increased sperm numbers in cauda epididymis. In summary, Shilajit restores glycemic status, increases insulin sensitivity, stimulates steroidogenesis, and improves testicular functions through Sertoli cell and Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling in STZ-induced diabetic mice.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/5517176","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143121230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship of Early Embryonic Development In Vitro Fertilization With Sperm Zinc Homeostasis and Seminal Plasma Antioxidation","authors":"Meiyang Du,&nbsp;Yizhen Hu,&nbsp;Dan Yang,&nbsp;Shiwei Luan,&nbsp;Xiaowei Luo,&nbsp;Haoyang Dai,&nbsp;Yasong Geng,&nbsp;Bo Zheng,&nbsp;Shusong Wang","doi":"10.1155/and/6663110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/6663110","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>The study aims to explore the sperm parameters that affect early embryo development in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to study their relationship with sperm zinc homeostasis and seminal plasma antioxidation. The semen samples were incubated at 37°C for 1, 2, 3, and 4 h, and the sperm progressive motility (PR) was analyzed. We found that the sperm PR significantly decreased after 3 h of incubation (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) and further decreased after 4 h (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). The correlation analysis showed that sperm PR was significant positively correlated with transferable embryo rate (<i>r</i> = 0.155, <i>p</i> = 0.026) and blastocyst formation rate (<i>r</i> = 0.140, <i>p</i> = 0.044) after incubation for 4 h, while its decline rate was significant negatively correlated with transferable embryo rate (<i>r</i> = −0.151, <i>p</i> = 0.030) and blastocyst formation rate (<i>r</i> = −0.220, <i>p</i> = 0.002). Additionally, the ELISA assay indicated that patients with PR &gt; 32% and decline rate &lt; 30% had significantly higher levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the seminal plasma compared to patients with PR &lt; 32% and decline rate &gt; 30% (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly lower (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The results of the zinc fluorescence probe showed that the level of free zinc ion in sperm in the high motility and low decline rate group was significantly higher than that in the low motility and high decline rate group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence results showed that the group with high motility and low decline rate had significantly higher relative expression levels of G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39), anoctamin 1 (ANO1), and zinc transporter protein 13 (ZIP13) mRNA (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, patients with low PR and high PR decline rate after 4 h of incubation had poor early embryo development results in IVF. This may be through the reduction of zinc homeostasis-associated protein expression to accelerate the oxidative stress process, thereby reducing sperm quality and ultimately affecting embryonic development.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/6663110","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143120523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Annona muricata Aqueous Extract Ameliorates Testicular and Epididymal Sperm Toxicity in Rats Exposed to Gasoline Fumes","authors":"Ogechukwu E. Ezim,&nbsp;Naboth E. Agabus,&nbsp;Eugene N. Onyeike,&nbsp;Sunny O. Abarikwu","doi":"10.1155/and/4797178","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/4797178","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>In the present study, aqueous leaf extract of <i>Annona muricata</i> was assessed for its capacity to mitigate testicular damages and sperm toxicity induced by gasoline fumes. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups of eight animals per group: the control group was given distilled water, and the PEBI group was exposed to petrol by inhalation and petrol-exposed animals that were concomitantly treated with <i>A. muricata</i> at 100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹ body weight (b.w), respectively (PEBI + AM100 and PEBI + AM200) via oral gavage. Oxidative stress markers, sperm quality variables and histological examination of the testes evaluated at the end of the 10-week exposure period showed that coadministration of <i>A. muricata</i> significantly reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, elevated catalase (CAT) activity, diminished DNA fragmentation and improved sperm quality, thereby attenuating testicular and epididymal sperm toxicity in rats exposed to gasoline fumes. Interestingly, the higher dose <i>A. muricata</i> could also lower lipid peroxidation to below the control values, demonstrating the antilipoperoxidative and antioxidant protective effects of <i>A. muricata</i> in a gasoline fume model of testicular and spermatoxicity in rats.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/4797178","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143119280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Curcumin Ameliorates Hydrocortisone-Induced Leydig Cell Injury and Testicular Dysfunction by Upregulating the Nrf2 Pathway","authors":"Jingjing Guo,&nbsp;Feifei Ma,&nbsp;Yang Li,&nbsp;Renshan Ge,&nbsp;Anshi Wu","doi":"10.1155/and/5596226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/5596226","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Curcumin has antifragmentation, antivirus, anti-infection, and antioxidation properties. Curcumin has been proven to prevent the peroxidation of sperm and testis membranes, thus enhancing sperm motility and reducing sperm abnormalities. This study aims to explore the role of curcumin in improving hydrocortisone (HCT)-induced Leydig cell injury by upregulating the Nrf2 pathway. Thirty male rats were divided into three groups: control group (CG, <i>n</i> = 10), model group (MG, <i>n</i> = 10), and curcumin treatment group (CTG, <i>n</i> = 10). CG rats were fed 2.5 mL/kg carboxymethyl cellulose as a blank control. MG rats were fed with 10 mg/kg HCT for 2 weeks. CTG rats were fed with 10 mg/kg HCT for 2 weeks and 100 mg/kg curcumin orally every day for 4 consecutive weeks. The ultrastructural score of Leydig cells was higher in the MG than in the CG (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) and was lower in the CTG than in the MG (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 were lower in the MG than in the CG (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) and higher in the CTG than in the MG (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Curcumin can improve the biochemical and histological structural damage of rat testes induced by HCT by upregulating Nrf2 expression. This protective effect relies on the Nrf2 pathway inhibiting oxidative stress in the body, increasing testosterone levels and enzyme activity, thereby improving testicular dysfunction caused by interstitial cell damage.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/5596226","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143117888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Walnut Leaf Extract: A Natural Antioxidant to Improve Sperm Parameters and Testicular Dysfunction in Rats Under In Vitro Heat Stress","authors":"Farid Salehimanesh,&nbsp;Morteza Taravat,&nbsp;Monireh Khordadmehr,&nbsp;Reza Asadpour","doi":"10.1155/and/9992387","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/9992387","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Heat stress causes damage to testicular tissue and spermatogenesis in males. Walnut leaf extract (WLE) has antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of WLE on testicular tissue and sperm quality in rats under in vitro heat stress. For this purpose, 60 male albino rats were divided into five groups: healthy control group (T1), heated-control group (T2), and treatments with 40, 60, and 150 mg/kg of the extract (T3, T4, and T5, respectively). The WLE was administered orally for 55 days after inducing heat stress for 45 days. The rats were then dissected and their testis tissues were evaluated for pathological changes, sperm parameters, antioxidant status, and gene expression of heat shock protein-70 (<i>HSP70</i>), heat shock factor-1 (<i>HSF1</i>), nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (<i>NRF2</i>), and silent information regulator 1 (<i>SITR1</i>) by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Complete tissue destruction and the lowest sperm motility and antioxidant activity were observed in T2. Rats in the group T3 exhibited slightly improved motility, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. The T4 and T5 groups showed notable improvements in sperm quality and antioxidant status (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). In the T4 and T5 groups, the expression levels of HSP70, HSF1, STR1, and NRF2 were significantly higher than those in the T2 group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, WLE has antioxidant activity that controls testis dysfunction and sperm quality under heat stress conditions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/9992387","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143113169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of Probiotics for Male Reproductive Tract Health: In Vitro Experiments and Clinical Trial on Healthy Volunteers","authors":"Reet Mändar,&nbsp;Imbi Smidt,&nbsp;Tiiu Rööp,&nbsp;Dagmar Hoidmets,&nbsp;Kalle Kilk,&nbsp;Mihkel Zilmer,&nbsp;Kristo Ausmees,&nbsp;Andres Salumets","doi":"10.1155/and/7000428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/7000428","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Background:</b> Health of the male urogenital tract is closely related to the microbial communities in this anatomical area. Disturbed microbial communities can be balanced with the help of carefully selected strains in which the presence of both general and specific probiotic effects has been described.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Objectives:</b> We aimed to develop novel probiotic that could be used to support male reproductive health.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Materials and Methods:</b> Suitable lactobacilli strains were screened from culture collection in order to find the most suitable strains for male genital tract. Clinical trial included 10 volunteer men who considered themselves healthy. They consumed enteric-coated oral capsules containing four lactobacilli strains. Blood markers and questionnaire data were recorded during the consumption period.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> The selected lactobacilli strains (two <i>L. crispatus</i>, one <i>L. gasseri</i>, one <i>L. ruminis</i>) expressed good tolerance to high pH and antagonistic activity against prostatitis-associated opportunistic bacteria. Metabolic profiling of the selected strains revealed beneficial properties for both reproductive and general health. The probiotic capsules appeared to be generally well tolerated during 1-week period. No serious adverse events and no significant changes in haemogram were observed.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusions:</b> The study confirmed that certain probiotic properties in lactobacilli are highly strain-specific, and we succeeded to select a set of strains that can be suitable for supporting male reproductive health. Our study suggested that daily oral administration of the selected strains at the dose level of billion CFU/dose during 1 week is well tolerated by healthy middle-aged men. Therefore, these strains seem to be promising candidates for the development of novel evidence-based well-focused probiotics to target male urogenital tract disorders. Their effectiveness must be confirmed in clinical trials on diseased patients.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/7000428","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143111987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protective Effects of Scrophularia striata Extract on Testicular Function and Spermatogenesis in Cadmium-Exposed Mice: Role of Nitro-Oxidative Stress Modulation","authors":"Mojtaba Moradi,&nbsp;Masoumeh Golestan Jahromi,&nbsp;Saman Mirzaei,&nbsp;Elham Ghanbari,&nbsp;Saman Moradi,&nbsp;Fereshteh Afkar,&nbsp;Leila Rezakhani,&nbsp;Azita Faramarzi","doi":"10.1155/and/5565361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/5565361","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Cadmium (Cd), an environmental pollutant present in soil, water, and food, is known to pose significant risks to male reproductive health by inducing oxidative stress and toxicity. <i>Scrophularia striata</i> extract (SSE) is rich in natural antioxidants that play a crucial role in neutralizing toxins and protecting various organs. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of SSE in mitigating testicular damage and impairments in spermatogenesis induced by Cd using an animal model. Adult mice were randomly assigned to six groups: control, Cd, SSE 100 mg/kg, SSE 200 mg/kg, SSE 100 mg/kg plus Cd, and SSE 200 mg/kg plus Cd. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.35 mg/kg of Cd for 35 days, with or without SSE. At the study’s conclusion, various parameters were assessed, including sperm count, motility, viability, morphology, DNA integrity, testosterone levels, testicular histopathology, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the testes. The results demonstrated that SSE significantly improved spermatogenesis, as indicated by improved sperm count, motility, viability, morphology, and chromatin integrity. Additionally, testosterone levels and testicular histopathology were notably improved in SSE-treated groups. While Cd exposure significantly elevated oxidative stress in the testes, SSE treatment effectively enhanced antioxidant defense by increasing TAC levels and reducing NO and MDA levels. Overall, SSE provided substantial protection against testicular damage induced by chronic Cd exposure by modulating oxidative stress, highlighting its potential as a promising herbal therapy for addressing reproductive toxicity and male infertility linked to environmental pollutants.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/5565361","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143120445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Use of Machine Learning for Human Sperm and Oocyte Selection and Success Rate in IVF Methods","authors":"Javad Amini Mahabadi,&nbsp;Seyed Ehsan Enderami,&nbsp;Hossein Nikzad,&nbsp;Hassan Hassani Bafrani","doi":"10.1155/and/8165541","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/8165541","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Objective:</b> Infertility is indeed a significant global health concern. The quality of gametes plays a pivotal role in determining the success rates of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. In contemporary fertility and reproductive medicine, the utilization of machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful tool for processing large datasets, offering the potential to enhance existing ART practices. The objective of this review study was to assess sperm and oocyte characteristics in humans using ML techniques. This approach can contribute to a more precise evaluation of the gamete, leading to improved decision-making and potentially higher success rates in ART procedures. Using of ML abilities, researchers can obtain valuable insights into the quality of gametes, thereby optimizing fertility treatments for individuals and couples experiencing infertility issues.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Materials and Methods:</b> We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus using the keywords “Machine Learning AND Quantification AND IVF.” Eligible articles were initially screened based on their titles. After the title screening, a second screening was performed based on the abstracts of the selected articles. Finally, the full articles of the remaining studies were reviewed to ensure they met our inclusion criteria. From each eligible study, we extracted the following information: author(s) of the study, publication year, and the method employed to evaluate human oocyte quality.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The development of a properly trained ML system will require careful attention to data quality, measurement, sample size, and ethics issues agreement.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/8165541","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143120446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of Concurrent Administration of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C on Sperm Quality Parameters, Serum Total Oxidant and Antioxidant Status, and Testicular Histopathology in Varicocele-Induced Adolescent and Adult Rats","authors":"Saeede Akbarian,&nbsp;Sahar Ghaffari Khaligh,&nbsp;Mahmood Ahmadi-Hamedani,&nbsp;Hamidreza Moslemi,&nbsp;Ashkan Jebelli Javan","doi":"10.1155/and/9334912","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/9334912","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Varicocele is a leading cause of infertility in couples. It damages sperm and increases oxidative stress (OS) in seminal fluid. Antioxidant treatments like alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and vitamin C (VC) can improve sperm quality by reducing OS. This study aims to explore the combined effects of these antioxidants in reducing the negative impact of OS caused by varicocele-induced adolescent (ADO) and adult (ADU) rats. This study included 50 male Wistar rats, comprising 25 ADU rats and 25 ADO divided into 10 groups of five. The groups and treatment include Group I (ADO-Control) and VI (ADU-Control): the healthy group, no treatment, Groups II (ADO-Mock) and VII (ADU-Mock): received normal saline for 2 months, Group III (ADO-Varicocele-VC) and VIII (ADU-Varicocele-VC): received VC (100 mg/kg), Group IV (ADO-Varicocele-ALA) and IX (ADU-Varicocele-ALA): received ALA (300 mg/kg), and Group V (ADO-Varicocele-VC + ALA) and X (ADU-Varicocele-VC + ALA): received VC (100 mg/kg) + ALA (300 mg/kg). After 2 months of treatment, the rats were anesthetized. The sperm quality parameters, serum total oxidant and antioxidant properties, and testicular pathology were assessed. There were significant differences (<i>p</i>  &lt; 0.05) in the varicocele-ALA + VC and varicocele-ALA groups compared to the varicocele-VC and the Mock group (ADO and ADU). Additionally, there was a significant variance (<i>p</i>  &lt; 0.05) in the OS index between the varicocele-ALA + VC and Varicocele-ALA groups compared to the other groups. The use of ALA has a positive impact on sperm parameters and the structure and function of testicular tissue, leading to a decrease in the OS index. Treatment with VC, along with other antioxidants like ALA, may provide a protective effect, but treatment with VC alone did not show significant effectiveness in varicocele-induced ADO and ADU rats.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/9334912","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143118573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Betaine on Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Damage in Mice","authors":"Fatemeh Rezaei-Tazangi,&nbsp;Negar Varaa,&nbsp;Zahra Kazemikia,&nbsp;Arash Goodarzi,&nbsp;Layasadat Khorsandi","doi":"10.1155/and/4126428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/4126428","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Background:</b> Methotrexate (MTX) is widely administered to manage various cancers. However, MTX induces spermatogenic defects.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Objective:</b> This study investigated the protective effects of betaine (BET) against MTX–induced testicular damage.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Materials and Methods:</b> Forty-eight male mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, BET (300 mg/kg), MTX (20 mg/kg), and MTX (20 mg/kg) + BET (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) groups. Testosterone levels, histological changes, sperm quality, apoptosis, and oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed to evaluate the protective effects of BET.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> MTX disrupted germinal epithelium, reduced sperm quality, and decreased serum testosterone levels, as well as induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in the testicular tissue. BET dose dependently restored the testosterone levels and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, BET reduced lipid peroxidation, as indicated by decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. BET preserved normal spermatogenesis, improved sperm quality, and reduced histological changes by MTX. Moreover, BET reduced apoptosis by decreasing the Bcl-2 Associated X-protein (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) ratio in the testicular tissue of the MTX-intoxicated mice.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The results indicate that BET mitigates testicular harm triggered by MTX by inhibiting apoptosis and decreasing oxidative stress levels.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/4126428","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142685317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}