Andrologia最新文献

{"title":"Protective Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Tribulus cistoides (Zygophyllaceae) Against Nicotine-Induced Fertility Impairment in Male Wistar Rats","authors":"Kiafon Betrand Nsah,&nbsp;Nguedem Sylvie Fonkwo,&nbsp;Njoya Moses Tita Mogho,&nbsp;Tangu Patience Neng,&nbsp;Mumbi Laurantine Ngenteh,&nbsp;Ndifor Rose Nchang,&nbsp;Bih Belta Lilian Fubi,&nbsp;Kada Sanda Antoine","doi":"10.1155/and/6243303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/6243303","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Infertility affects a substantial proportion of couples worldwide and is defined as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 1 year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Growing interest has been directed toward ethnobotanical approaches for the management of male infertility. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of the aqueous extract of <i>Tribulus cistoides</i> against nicotine-induced infertility in male Wistar rats. Thirty adult male rats were randomly allocated into six groups (<i>n</i> = 5). Group 1 received distilled water (5 mL/kg), Group 2 received nicotine alone (1 mg/kg), and Group 3 received nicotine plus testosterone enanthate (5 mg/kg), while Groups 4–6 were administered nicotine in combination with <i>T. cistoides</i> aqueous extract at doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, respectively, for a period of 60 days. Evaluated parameters included body and reproductive organ weights, testicular oxidative stress markers, seminal vesicle fructose, total testicular protein, sperm density and motility, serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testicular histoarchitecture. Nicotine administration resulted in a significant reduction in sperm density (15.00 ± 1.05 × 10⁶/g vs. 43.05 ± 3.06 × 10⁶/g), sperm motility (35.73% ± 0.72% vs. 56.44% ± 2.17%), and serum testosterone levels (0.124 ± 0.002 ng/mL vs. 0.521 ± 0.048 ng/mL) compared with the normal control group. Conversely, treatment with <i>T. cistoides</i> extract at 150 mg/kg significantly improved sperm density (50.15 ± 1.46 × 10⁶/g), motility (71.16% ± 4.15%), and testosterone levels (0.411 ± 0.016 ng/mL). In contrast, testosterone enanthate did not produce significant improvements in the fertility parameters assessed when compared with the nicotine-treated group. The extract also enhanced testicular antioxidant status, reproductive hormone profiles, seminal fructose levels, testicular protein content, and reproductive organ weights, likely due to its androgenic and antioxidant properties. Histological examination further revealed increased sperm density in the extract-treated groups like in the normal control group. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of <i>T. cistoides</i> exhibited notable protective and restorative effects against nicotine-induced male infertility, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for improving male reproductive function.</p>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/6243303","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683089","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 Melatonin Addition During Cryopreservation of Chinchilla Rabbit Spermatozoa in Mexico","authors":"Daniel González-Ruiz,&nbsp;Metzli Mayte García-Bernal,&nbsp;Elisa Gutiérrez Hernández,&nbsp;Alicia Alcántar-Rodríguez,&nbsp;Alfredo Medrano","doi":"10.1155/and/1591567","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/1591567","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In recent years, efforts have been made to make rabbit production more efficient, and reproductive strategies, such as artificial insemination, have been developed to make it more productive. However, unlike in other species, there are currently no protocols to ensure that sperm quality is maintained during thawing. As the main problem faced by spermatozoa during cryopreservation is free radical formation, the addition of antioxidants, such as melatonin (MLT), to extenders for sperm cryopreservation has been tested. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different MLT concentrations on the cryopreservation of Chinchilla rabbit sperm in Mexico. Ejaculates were collected from six males with proven fertility, and a pool was formed from those that had at least 70% progressive motility (PM) (18 pools in total). The pooled semen samples were microscopically assessed for wave motion (WM), PM, viability (VB), morphology, membrane functionality (MF), and acrosomal integrity. A two-step freezing protocol was applied using INRA-82 as the extender supplemented with Orvus Paste (0.5%), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (4%), and dimethylformamide (DMF) (4%) as cryoprotectants (final concentration). Aliquots were taken to form six MLT concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3.0 mM) at room temperature (23°C). The sperm samples were packaged in 0.25 mL straws, cooled to 5°C, and then exposed to nitrogen vapours before being immersed in liquid nitrogen for storage. For thawing, the straws were immersed in a water bath for 30 s at 37°C. Thawed sperm samples were microscopically assessed for VB using the NucleoCounter (NC) system, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare the effects of different MLT concentrations on sperm parameters. No significant differences (<i>p</i>  &gt; 0.05) were observed among the concentrations for any of the evaluated variables. In conclusion, MLT addition during Chinchilla rabbit sperm cryopreservation had no effect on sperm motility, VB, acrosomal integrity, MF, membrane integrity, or morphology.</p>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/1591567","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147684277","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":"A Novel Immunonutritional Index for Male Infertility: The Predictive Value of the HALP Score on Varicocelectomy Outcomes","authors":"Yasin Aktaş,&nbsp;Mehmet Gökaslan,&nbsp;Ali Nihat Gökcan,&nbsp;Adem Tunçekin,&nbsp;Hakan Türk","doi":"10.1155/and/4494203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/4494203","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Predicting the outcome of varicocele repair remains a challenge in cases of male infertility. The haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet (HALP) score is a novel index that reflects both systemic inflammation and immunonutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the preoperative HALP score on semen parameter improvement after microsurgical varicocelectomy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We retrospectively analysed 134 patients undergoing microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy. Surgical success at 6 months was defined as a &gt;50% increase in total motile sperm count (TMSC), or a &gt;100% increase for baseline TMSC of less than 5 million. We compared the preoperative HALP score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) between the improvement and non-improvement groups. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of success.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Significant improvement was achieved in 74 patients (55.2%). The median preoperative HALP score was significantly higher in the Improvement Group than in the Non-improvement Group (79 vs. 70, <i>p</i> = 0.048). While NLR and SII were significant in the univariate analysis, they lost statistical significance in the multivariate model. Even after adjusting for baseline parameters, the HALP score (≥75) remained a significant predictor of semen recovery (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.01–6.87; <i>p</i> = 0.048), alongside preoperative TMSC. ROC curve analysis revealed that the HALP score had modestly statistically significant discriminative ability, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.600.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The preoperative HALP score is a novel, cost-effective and promising adjunctive biomarker for predicting improvement in semen parameters after varicocelectomy. A high HALP score indicates favourable immunonutritional reserves. Identifying patients with low HALP scores could allow for preoperative optimisation to improve surgical outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/4494203","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147615345","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":"Significance of Serum Total Testosterone (T), Estradiol (E2), and T/E2 Ratio in Older Males With Metabolic Syndrome Across Different Age Cohorts: A Retrospective Review","authors":"Gang Ma,&nbsp;Xiaodong Chen,&nbsp;Yanmei Miao,&nbsp;Xuexia Ji,&nbsp;Zhicheng Qiao","doi":"10.1155/and/7503909","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/7503909","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Background&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The decline in glandular function among older males may contribute to the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, research on the relationship between sex hormone levels and the progression of MetS in older men is scarce. This study aimed to elucidate the significance of serum total testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and the &lt;i&gt;T&lt;/i&gt;/E2 ratio in older men with MetS, with a specific focus on age-specific variations. While low T is a known risk factor, the role of E2 and the &lt;i&gt;T&lt;/i&gt;/E2 balance across different age cohorts remains poorly defined. Men aged ≥ 46 years who attended Harrison International Peace Hospital between June 2022 and December 2024 were enrolled in the study. A total of 405 patients were screened for a confirmed diagnosis of MetS (178 cases) and no MetS-related component abnormalities (227 cases) and stratified by age into three groups: low age (46–64 years), middle age (65–74 years), and high age (≥ 75 years). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance age, body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise habits, resulting in 125 pairs of participants successfully matched in a 1:1 ratio between the two groups in each age stratum (tolerance: 0.03). Comparisons were made between the T, E2, and T/E2 ratios across groups. Correlations between these three indicators and individual components of MetS were analyzed. The predictive roles of these three indicators combined with other high-risk factors in the occurrence of MetS among middle-aged and older men across different age groups were also explored.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;After PSM, the MetS group demonstrated significantly lower serum total testosterone (T) and T/E2 ratio compared to the non-MetS group across all age strata (all &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;  &lt; 0.05), while estradiol (E2) levels showed no significant difference. A significant age-dependent decline in T and T/E2 was observed within the MetS group. Correlation analyses revealed that T and T/E2 ratio were negatively associated with key MetS components (e.g., triglycerides [TG], fasting blood glucose), with the strength of these correlations attenuating in the oldest cohort (≥ 75 years). Multivariable models identified the T/E2 ratio as an independent risk factor, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis established age-specific thresholds (e.g., T/E2 &gt;12.33 for 46–64 years) with high predictive value (AUCs up to 0.866).&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The T/E2 ratio provides significant predictive information beyond serum T alone for MetS in older men, particularly within the 46–74 year age window. These f","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/7503909","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147615346","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":"Erectile Dysfunction Among Hypertensive Patients in Eastern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Prevalence and Associated Factors","authors":"Saeed M. Omar,&nbsp;Mohamed F. Lutfi,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Hassan,&nbsp;Ishag Adam","doi":"10.1155/and/5587457","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/5587457","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hypertension poses a significant global health threat and is associated with several complications, including erectile dysfunction (ED). Currently, there is no published data on the prevalence of ED among hypertensive patients in Sudan. Thus, this study evaluated the prevalence of ED and the associated factors among hypertensive patients in eastern Sudan.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This cross-sectional study was carried out in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan. Data on demographic characteristics, anthropometrics, blood pressure, results of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, and clinical history was obtained. Multivariate binary regression analysis was used.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Three hundred and twelve men with hypertension were recruited. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age and duration of hypertension were 52.2 (46.0–59.0) years and 5.0 (3.0–7.0) years, respectively. Of the participants, 107 (34.3%) had ED. Of those with ED, 107 men were identified, with 15 (14.0%) experiencing severe ED, 10 (9.3%) experiencing moderate ED, 39 (36.4%) experiencing mild to moderate ED, and 43 (40.2%) experiencing mild ED. Multivariate binary regression revealed that increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.13 and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–1.19), increasing duration of hypertension (AOR = 1.24 and 95% CI 1.09–1.40), number of medications (AOR = 2.40 and 95% CI = 1.27–4.55), and being of low income (AOR = 2.26 and 95% CI = 1.10–4.67) were associated with ED. Education level, occupation, presence of comorbidity, tobacco use, or alcohol use were not associated with ED.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study reveals a significant prevalence of ED (34.3%) among men with hypertension in Eastern Sudan, with age, duration of hypertension, number of medications, and low income as key associated factors. This present study emphasizes the importance of integrated screening and management strategies to address both hypertension and ED simultaneously.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/5587457","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147585300","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":"Modulation of Diet-Induced Vitamin D Deficiency on Reproductive Hormones Secretion and Gene Expression in Adult Male Rats","authors":"Ayyaz Ahmed,&nbsp;Hira Zubair,&nbsp;Shazia Ali,&nbsp;Riffat Bano,&nbsp;Sarwat Jahan,&nbsp;Muhammad Shahab","doi":"10.1155/and/8848418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/8848418","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly being recognized as a health concern, especially due to its role in male infertility. The present research was designed to systematically investigate the effects of dietary vitamin D on hormone secretion and gene expression at three levels of the male reproductive axis. Adult male rats (<i>n</i> = 60) were housed in hygienic and well-ventilated conditions in stainless steel cages at optimum temperature in an animal housing facility with 12 h light/dark cycle and were randomly divided into three equal groups. The control group was fed on a standard rodent diet. The vitamin D deficient (VDD) group was fed a VDD diet, and the third group (VDCP) was maintained on a VDD diet, but the feed was supplemented with calcium and phosphate. After 60 days of feeding, blood samples were obtained for hormone assays, and the animals were sacrificed. Hypothalamic, pituitary glands, and testicular tissues were obtained for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The hypothalamic GnRH content was significantly decreased (<i>p</i>  &lt; 0.05) in VDD and VDCP groups. FSH and LH levels were significantly decreased (<i>p</i>  &lt; 0.05) in the VDD group. In the VDD group, RT-PCR showed significant downregulation (<i>p</i>  &lt; 0.05) of GnRH, FSH, and LH mRNA expression. The inhibin B was significantly reduced in both VDD and VDCP groups (<i>p</i>  &lt; 0.05). VDD diet affected the reproductive hormones release and mRNA expression of GnRH in the hypothalamus, FSH, LH in the pituitary, and inhibin B in testicular tissues showing modulating effects on synthesis/release of these hormones.</p>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/8848418","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147567726","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":"Connection Between Erectile Dysfunction and Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota: Results From NHANES 2001–2004","authors":"Mengyuan Lin,&nbsp;Qingwen He,&nbsp;Ninghan Feng","doi":"10.1155/and/7220006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/7220006","url":null,"abstract":"<p>During past years, more attention has been paid to the gut microbiome’s effect on monitoring erectile dysfunction (ED). While the connection of the ED risk with dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM) has not been sufficiently uncovered. This relationship was studied using data of NHANES from 2001 to 2004, with the DI-GM estimated from dietary recall data. A total of 4116 individuals were enrolled in the study, of whom 1999 were diagnosed with ED. A negative relationship between ED risk and DI-GM score was observed (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83–0.92). When DI-GM scores were grouped, the scores in Q4 and Q3 were negatively correlated with ED in the adjusted model, with ORs (95% CI; <i>p</i> for trend) of 0.50 (0.39–0.65; &lt;0.001) and 0.60 (0.45–0.80; &lt;0.001), respectively, compared with the lowest quartile (Q1). Additionally, a nonlinear relationship between the prevalence of ED and DI-GM score was revealed by restricted cubic spline (RCS) logistic analysis. The nomogram exhibited perfect performance (AUC 0.83, 95% CI = 0.81–0.84). In this study, DI-GM score was negatively associated with ED risk, and the association was nonlinear.</p>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/7220006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147566010","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":"Safeguarding Spermatogenesis: Garcinia kola Extract and Kolaviron Effectively Ameliorate Testicular Toxicity in Rats Treated With Bleomycin, Etoposide, and Cisplatin Combination Therapy","authors":"O. A. Ayedogba,&nbsp;O. E. Olorundare,&nbsp;A. A. Adeneye,&nbsp;A. M. Ajayi,&nbsp;Y. C. F. Teles,&nbsp;A. A. Fatokun","doi":"10.1155/and/6620108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/and/6620108","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Background&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Emerging evidence indicates that certain chemotherapeutic agents, particularly the bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) regimen, exert deleterious effects on male reproductive function, including impaired spermatogenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated that &lt;i&gt;Garcinia kola&lt;/i&gt; (GK) seed extract and its bioactive biflavonoid constituent, kolaviron (KV), exhibit beneficial properties in reproductive physiology. However, their potential protective effects against BEP-induced testicular toxicity remain underexplored. This study evaluated the chemopreventive efficacy of GK extract (GKE) and KV in attenuating BEP-mediated testicular damage in a preclinical rodent model.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Adult male Wistar rats (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 8 per group) were subjected to three 21-day cycles of BEP chemotherapy (0.5 mg/kg bleomycin, 5 mg/kg etoposide, and 1 mg/kg cisplatin, administered intraperitoneally). Concurrently, treatment groups received oral supplementation with GKE (100 mg/kg), KV (100 mg/kg), silymarin (SLM; 10 mg/kg), or prednisolone (PRED; 5 mg/kg), with dosages determined via prior dose–response optimization. Post-treatment assessments included: sperm functional analysis (count, motility, morphology), serum reproductive hormone profiling [testosterone (TST), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)], oxidative stress markers [glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)], lipid peroxidation indicators [malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO)], inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and apoptotic markers [caspase-3 (CAS-3) and caspase-9 (CAS-9)].&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;BEP administration significantly impaired spermatogenic output, which was ameliorated by GKE, KV, SLM, and PRED co-treatment. Notably, TST levels remained stable in GKE- and KV-supplemented groups. All test compounds enhanced antioxidant capacity, suppressing lipid peroxidation (reduced MDA and NO). Furthermore, GKE and KV significantly attenuated BEP-induced elevations in pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and apoptotic mediators (CAS-3, CAS-9).&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;GKE and KV conferred substantial protection against BEP-induced testicular toxicity, primarily through mechanisms involving oxidative stress mitigation, anti-inflammatory action, and apoptosis suppression. Their efficacy paralleled that of established agents (SLM, PRED), suggesting potential utility as adjunctive therapies to preserve male ferti","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/6620108","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147565097","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":"Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Reduces Epididymal Sperm Storage More Than Testicular Sperm Production in Rats: A Stereological Finding","authors":"Li Ma,&nbsp;Yu Xiang,&nbsp;Yang Guo,&nbsp;Xiao-Hong Wen,&nbsp;Yang-You Li,&nbsp;Bo Liao,&nbsp;Zheng-Wei Yang","doi":"10.1155/and/8771785","DOIUrl":"10.1155/and/8771785","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Previous studies showed considerable decrease of epididymal sperm count in diabetic rats and ascribed it to spermatogenic damage in the testis; diabetic rat models were therefore often used for pharmaceutical studies on sperm protection. But there were methodological problems with previous studies: sperm count obtained in many studies does not represent the total sperm storage and spermatogenic damage was not reliably evaluated with quantitative (stereological) methods. The present study aimed to determine with stereological methods whether the rat diabetes reduces sperm storage and damages spermatogenesis. 44 normal rats and 9 unilaterally vasectomized rats were induced diabetic with streptozotocin treatment; epididymides and testes were obtained at 14 days, 30 days, and 12 weeks after the treatment. Stereological measurements were implemented on methacrylate embedded epididymal and testicular sections. Total volumes of sperm mass and other tissues in the epididymis were estimated; testicular histology, seminiferous tubule diameters, and others were evaluated. The results demonstrated that total volumes of sperm mass and its surrounding epididymal tissues in the epididymides decreased significantly by more than 40%−61% and 18%−26%, respectively, 2−12 weeks after induction of diabetes in mature rats while spermatogenic damage was not prevalent, with most of the diabetic rat testes having normal spermatogenesis. The total volume of sperm mass in the epididymis plus sperm granuloma (formed around the vas deferens after vasectomy) on the vasectomized side was not significantly decreased in normal (without spermatogenic damage) diabetic rats compared with normal non-diabetic rats (unilaterally vasectomized). In conclusion, type I diabetes in rats indeed results in considerable reduction of the epididymal sperm reserve. But probably it is mainly the result of atrophy of the epididymis and hypercontractility of the epididymal duct due to decreased serum testosterone levels commonly seen in diabetic rats, not the result of reduced sperm production.</p>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/8771785","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147569344","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":"Psychological Impacts on Peyronie’s Disease and Its Treatments: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence","authors":"Luyi Jiang,&nbsp;Zihang Ma,&nbsp;Jingjing Li,&nbsp;Jian Liao,&nbsp;Shankun Zhao,&nbsp;Xinsheng Zhang","doi":"10.1155/and/7742152","DOIUrl":"10.1155/and/7742152","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a prevalent genital condition characterized by fibrosis of the tunica albuginea in men. The resultant penile deformities, pain, shortening, and erectile dysfunction render patients with PD susceptible to psychiatric disorders. The current study aims to summarize the psychological impacts on PD and its treatments via a narrative review. Seventeen clinical studies were finally included for analysis. According to these eligible studies, the prevalence of depression and anxiety ranged from 12% to 62% and 7% to 75%, respectively. Other types of psychiatric disorders in PD patients included distress, mood disorder, self-injurious, isolation, anger, loss of confidence, frustration, and loss of self-esteem. Except for intralesional collagenase, some specific treatments, that is, dermal graft repair, inflatable penile prosthesis, antidepressants, and psychotherapy could improve PD-associated psychological disorders. Clinicians should provide a complete perspective on psychological aspects in counseling PD patients as well as their partner. This review summarized recent evidence on the psychological impacts of PD and its various treatments. A meta-analysis was not performed, which represents a limitation of this study. Nonetheless, the present review underscores the substantial psychological burdens experienced by individuals with PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/7742152","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147568842","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}