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Background and Aim: Selenium as an antioxidant is essential for normal function of testis and spermatogenesis. It can reduce formation of free oxygen radicals and as a result it is expected to improve male fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in antioxidant capacity of old rats sperms after prescription of 0.2 mg/kg of Selenium. Materials and Methods: In this study, 15 old male rats of 10-12 months of age and 15 adult male rats of 2-3 months of age were randomly divided into three groups: control, sham and experimental groups. Control group did not receive any treatment sham group rats received intra peritoneal injections of equal volume of Selenium solvents (normal saline) as Selenium in experimental group. Experimental groups of male rats received daily intraperitoneal injection of Selenium (0.2 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. After 42 days from initiation of injection, the rats were killed by cervical dislocation and after obtaining sperm, total antioxidant capacity of the sperms was measured by FRAP assay. The absorbance of TPTZ-Fe+2 was read at 593 nm by spectrophotometery. For the statistical analysis, SPSS software was used and data analysis was performed by means of Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Withney U tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Results of this study showed significant differences in mean values of total antioxidant capacity in both old and adult rats in experimental and control groups (P<0.05). Also comparison of mean values of antioxidant capacity of sperm solution in adult and old control groups showed a significant difference (742.26±1.06 vs. 672.061±0.78 respectively) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Selenium treatment in old rats (0.2 mg/kg after 35 days) can improve total antioxidant capacity of the sperms of old rats. Regarding low levels of antioxidants in old rats, it can be suggested oxidative stress can result in diminution of antioxidant levels. Therefore antioxidant therapy could be considered as a method for improvement of the quality of sperms of old men. Conflict of Interest: Nill Received: Sep 15, 2008 Accepted: May 31, 2009

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Background and Aim: Clinical efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used antineoplastic drug, is limited by causing damage to normal tissues. The aim of this study was to determine the possible protective effects of Citrullus colocynthis pulp hydroalcoholic extract (CCE) on reproductive toxicity induced by DOX treatment.

Material and Methods: In this randomized controlled experimental study, 24 adult male mice were divided into groups of 6 animals. DOX was administered to two groups of the mice at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35. One of these groups received CCE at a dose of 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally four hours after DOX treatment. This study also included two other groups: vehicle-treated control group and  a group which received only CCE. Epididymal sperm fertilizing capacity of all animals were evaluated after 35 days. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey test for post hoc comparisons.

Results: DOX treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the fertilization rate and embryonic development along with increased rate of embryo growth arrest. Concomitant administration of CCE with DOX, restored all mentioned parameters to normal values.

Conclusion: These findings suggested a possible potential role for CCE in the protection of DOX-induced reproductive toxicities.

Keywords: Citrullus colocynthis, Doxorubicin, Fertility, Sperm, Mouse

Received: Nov 07, 2015      Accepted: Jan 30, 2016

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Background and Aim: Formaldehyde is an air contaminant which has wide applications in industry and medicine and its destructive effects have been reported on the body systems.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different doses of onion extract on biochemical parameters and histopathology of mice kidneys exposed to formaldehyde.

Material and Methods: 48 adult male mice were randomly divided into six groups. The control group did not receive any injection. The second group received formaldehyde 10 mg/kg for 14 days and the 3^rd, 4^th ,5^th and 6^th groups received 5,10,20 and 40 mg/kg/day of onion extract respectively in addition to intraperitoneal doses of formaldehyde. After 14 days, tissue preparation was done and using stereological technique, the sizes of the kidneys and glomeruli were measured. Also, serum urea and creatinine levels were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: We found significant decrease in the number of renal glomeruli in all of the groups that received onion and also decrease in the volume of glomeruli in the group which had received 10 mg onion/day, compared to those in the control group (P = 0.000). There were significant increase in the level of urea in the groups which had received doses of 10 and 20 mg of onion and in the creatinine levels of the groups which had received daily doses of 5, 20 and 40 mg of onion compared to those in the control group (P = 0.000). Formaldehyde caused renal damage and an increase in the levels of urea and creatinine as well as a decrease in the number and volume of the glomeruli of the kidneys.

Conclusion: Administration of daily doses of 40 mg hydro-alcoholic extract of onion for two weeks caused protective effect on kidney tissue exposed to the formaldehyde. 

Key words: Formaldehyde, kidney, Mouse, Onion, Extract, Hydrochloric, Biochemical, Morphometry.

Received: Jun 13, 2015      Accepted: Aug 22, 2016

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Background and Aim: Arsenic (As) compounds are environmental toxicants which are among human carcinogens. Sodium arsenite exposure leads to its accumulation in the liver resulting in liver disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of curcumin, as an antioxidant, on the liver tissue in the mice exposed to sodium arsenite.

Material and Methods: Thirty NMRI mice with mean body weight of 31±2 g. were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, scheme (receiving DMSO),curcumin (15mg/kg/day), sodium arsenite (5mg/kg/day) and sodium arsenite+curcumin groups. Every group consisted of 6 mice. The exposure was by intraperitoneal injections and carried out for 5 weeks. Then the mice were killed and the liver tissue was removed and weighed. Histopathological and stereological analyses were performed and the incidence of hepatocyte cells apoptosis (by the TUNEL method) was determined. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA, and the differences among mean values were considered significant at P<0.05.  

Results: A significant increase in the mean relative weight of liver, total volume of sinusoids, bile ductules (p<0.001) and total number of hepatocytes (p<0.03) and a significant decrease in the total volume of the central veins (p<0.001), the mean volume of the hepatocytes (p<0.04) and their nuclei (p<0.001) were observed in sodium arsenite group compared to those in control and scheme groups. Histopathological examination also revealed parenchymal disorganization, inflammatory cell infiltration, necrosis of hepatocytes and destruction of reticulin fiber scaffold in the mice liver treated with sodium arsenite. Most of sodium arsenite-induced liver damage improved in the sodium arsenite + curcumin group to the same extent as control group (p<0.05).

Conclusion:  Treatment with curcumin reduced liver damage induced by sodium arsenite.

Keywords: Curcumin, Liver, Mouse, Sodium arsenite, Stereology.

 

Received: Oct 31, 2015      Accepted: Dec 21, 2016

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Background and Aim:Ruta Graveolens (RG) commonly called Sedab, has been known as a medical plant since ancient times. Flavonoids, rutin (quercetin-rutinoside), quercetin, and furanocoumarins are the most common chemicals found in Sedab. Flavonoids have hepatotoxic and cytotoxic effects and the most abundant flavonoid in Sedab is quercetin. Due to its anti-proliferative and pro-apoptosis activities, quercetin can exert negative influences on ovaries and fertility in females. This study was performed to analyze Sedab aqueous extract and evaluate its oxidative effects.
Materials and Methods: This study included 30 female mice. The animals were divided into control and RG groups. Control group received a daily dose of 0.2 mL of normal saline, and Sedab aqueous extract 300mg/kg/day was given to RG group for 14 days. The levels of MDA, NO and TAC were measured and analysis of the extract were performed by HPLC to evaluate its oxidative effects.
Results: Administration of Sedab extract led to a significant increase in the MDA levels in RG group, in the 1^st and 2^nd weeks and increased levels of TAC in the 2^nd and 3^rd weeks compared to the results found in the control group. Meanwhile, NO levels increased and TAC levels decreased significantly in Sedab group in the 1^st week compared to those in the control group. Analysis revealed that each 10 mg aqueous extract contains 0.017 mg quercetin.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that a dose of 300mg/kg Sedab aqueous extract produced oxidative effect on mice ovarian tissue and after discontinuing administration of the extract and subsequent drop of its serum levels, the anti-oxidative effects appeared.
Keywords: Malone di-aldehyde, Nitric oxide, Total anti-oxidative capacity, Anti-fertility, RutaGraveolens, Mouse.
 
Received: May 23, 2016      Accepted: Jan 24, 2017

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Background and Aim: Visceral leishmaniasis, a native disease in developing countries, can cause functional impairment in various organs, including the reproductive system, which can lead to infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stereological, morphometric and morphological changes of testicular histoarchitecture in an experimental murine model of visceral leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 20 adult male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two equal groups including control and experimental (infected with visceral leishmaniasis) groups. In the experimental group, infection was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 ml of a solution containing 12 × 10⁶ promastigotes of Leishmania infantum in the stationary phase. 6 weeks after the start of the study, all the mice were euthanized after induction of anesthesia, then the spleens and testicles of the animals were removed immediately under sterile condition and examined for signs of infection and histological changes.
Results: The experimental group showed significant reductions in the diameter, germinal epithelium height, cross-sectional area, quality, maturation and number of seminiferous tubules as well as obvious testicular morphological changes including severe and spermatogenic cell maturation arrest in comparison to the control group.
Conclusion: The results indicated that visceral leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice may lead to testicular histological injuries because of incitement of inflammatory reactions, microcirculatory disruption, and involvement of the hematopoietic system.
Keywords: Histology, Mouse, Testis, Visceral leishmaniasis

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Background and Aim: Genetic changes and mutations in the genes involved in spermatogenesis can occur by environmental and congenital factors. Considering, the extensive use of diazinon in the farms and because we found no study on the effects of diazinon on the expression of CatSper1 gene, a key element of male fertility, we decided to perform this study in order to determine the effects of different doses of diazinon on CatSper1 gene expression, sperm motility and thickness of seminiferous tubules in adult male mice.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into four groups. The control group did not receive any injection. The sham group received diazinon solvent. Diazinon1 group received 7.5 mg/kg and, diazinon group 2 received 30 mg/kg of diazinon intraperitoneally, once a day for 2 weeks. After 35 days, we studied the sperms from the molecular and histological aspects and sperm motility was evaluated.
Results: Sperm motility was significantly decreased in diazinon 1 (P-value = 0.001) and diazinon 2 (P-value = 0.001) groups compared to that in the control group. Gene expression in diazinon group 1 and diazinone group 2 (P-value = 0.002) was significantly lower than that in the control group. Histological examination also showed that diazinon treatment reduced germinal epithelium thickness and led to vacuole formation and degeneration. Epithelial thickness was significantly decreased in diazinon group 1 (P-value = 0.003) and diazinon group 2 (P-value = 0.006) in comparison to that in the control group.
Conclusion: Diazinon affects male fertility by reduction in sperm motility and degenerative changes in germinal epithelium. It also, decreases expression of CatSper1 gene, a key gene in fertility.