Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to the defects in insulin secretion and function, or both. Glabridin (GBD) is one of the natural anti-oxidants used for infertility treatment. This study was planned to evaluate the effects of GBD on testicular oxidative status, sperm characteristics, and early embryo development in diabetic mature mice. Forty mature male mice were allotted to five equal groups, including control group received no treatment, diabetic group received intraperitoneal streptozotocin (50.00 mg kg^-1), and three experimental groups receiving 12.50, 50.00, and 200 mg kg^-1 GBD by gavage daily for 30 days, respectively. Serum levels of testosterone, sperm parameters, and testicular malondialdehyde, total anti-oxidant capacity, and catalase levels, as well as pre-implantation embryo development were determined. The diabetic group exhibited significantly reduced sperm motility, viability, and count, testosterone level, and testicular total anti-oxidant capacity and catalase levels, and increased testicular malondialdehyde level, and DNA-damaged and immature sperms along with poor in vitro fertilization outcomes compared to the control group. In contrast, the GBD administration, particularly at the highest dose, caused a pronounced improvement in the above-noted parameters. These findings suggest that GBD may play a role in impeding diabetes-induced male reproductive complications through oxidative stress repression, and sperms and early embryos protection.

Abstract Chemotherapy agents impose harmful side effects beside their therapeutic properties. This study aimed to uncover the ameliorative effects of thiamine (VitB1) on sperm characteristics and in vitro fertilizing ability in methotrexate (MTX) exposed mice. For this purpose, 36 apparently healthy adult male mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6), including control (0.10 mL normal saline per day; intraperitoneally [IP]), sham (10.00 mg kg^-1 per week MTX; IP), positive control group (100 mg kg^-1 per day VitB1; IP), and three experimental groups (25.00, 50.00, and 100 mg kg^-1 per day; IP VitB1 plus MTX, respectively; IP). Then, sperm parameters and the in vitro fertilizing potentials were assessed. The sperm count, motility, and viability in the sham group showed a significant decrease in comparison with the VitB1-treated and control groups. In the VitB1 100 mg kg^-1 + MTX group, there was a significant increase in sperm count in comparison with the sham group. The sperms with DNA damages and immature sperms in the sham group significantly increased in comparison with the positive control and control groups. In vitro fertilization and embryonic development in the sham group were decreased in comparison with both the control and VitB1 groups. In VitB1 50.00 mg kg^-1 and 100 mg kg^-1 + MTX groups, there was an increase in the fertilization rate, along with embryonic development promotion. According to the results of this study, thiamine ameliorates toxic effects of MTX on sperm traits and in vitro fertilizing potentials by constraining oxidative stress.

Abstract Exposure to extreme temperature conditions such as occurs in certain occupations is known to induce male infertility. In humans and most of the mammals, it has been shown that whole-body heat stress (HS) decreases fertility and produces defective embryos. Hence, the present study aimed at gaining some insights into the mechanisms producing defects after HS. In the present study, 56 mature male Wistar rats were randomly categorized into eight groups (n = 7), including group 1: Control, groups 2: Bioactive peptides (BPs; 10.00 mg kg^-1), groups 3, 4, and 5: Heat-stressed (37.00, 39.00, and 43.00 ˚C for 20 min, respectively), and groups 6, 7, and 8: Heat-stressed along with BPs (10.00 mg kg^-1), respectively. All treatments were administered orally once per day. The HS was induced through the immersion of rat scrotums in a water bath. After 45 days, rats were sacrificed and left testes were removed, fixed, and used for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Harvested right testes were also used for oxidative stress assessments and molecular analyses. Heat stress increased testicular tissue damage, elevated oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species production, and increased germ cells apoptosis, p53 and caspase 3 expressions, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Treatment with BPs as a substance with anti-oxidant properties ameliorated the damage caused by HS. The results of this study highlight the protective role of BPs in the reproductive tract under HS. Bioactive peptides may have potential function against testicular tissue oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Abstract Ethephon (C₂H₆ClO₃P; ETP), an organophosphorus pesticide regulating plant growth, is widely used for early ripening of fruits and vegetables in agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ETP on histomorphometrical and biochemical parameters in mouse testicular tissue. In this study, 90 adult male mice were randomly divided into six equal groups (n = 15). The ETP was administered orally at different doses (120, 240 and 480 mg kg^-1) daily for 35 days. Untreated control, sham (received only normal saline) and neostigmine bromide-treated (positive control; 0.10 mg kg^-1 orally; once per week) groups were also considered. Following 35 days, animals were euthanized and testicle and serum samples were taken. Accordingly, blood and serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE), catalase, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as well as histomorphometrical changes of testicles were investigated. The ETP-administered animals represented a significant reduction in AChE, TAC and catalase levels and remarkable increment in MDA content. A marked reduction was also seen in the germinal epithelium height, connective tissue thickness, seminiferous tubules diameter and Leydig cell number as well as spermiogenesis and Sertoli cell indices in ETP-treated mice compared to control ones. Similar findings were found in neostigmine bromide-treated animals. In conclusion, the ETP significantly affects the serum and blood anti-oxidant statuses and results in severe histological damages both at germ and somatic cell levels, suggesting its hematotoxic and reprotoxic characteristic.

Abstract The current study was conducted to analyze the dose-dependent effects of liraglutide against the diabetes-induced detrimental impact on sperm parameters and fertilization potential. For this purpose, 42 adult male mice were randomly divided into control (with no intervention) and experimental groups. Next, the experimental group was subdivided into diabetic, 1.20 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received diabetic, 1.80 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received diabetic, 1.20 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received non-diabetic and 1.80 mg kg^-1 liraglutide-received non-diabetic groups. All chemicals were administrated subcutaneously. Following 42 days, the animals were euthanized, and sperm samples were collected. The sperm count, motility, viability, DNA integrity, and maturity were analyzed and compared between groups. Moreover, the sperm fertilization potential was investigated by in vitro fertilization (IVF). For this purpose, the preimplantation embryo development at 2-cell, 4-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages was investigated and compared. Observations revealed that diabetes significantly diminished sperm count, motility, viability, chromatin condensation, and DNA integrity percentages versus a control group. On the other hand, 1.20 mg kg^-1 and 1.80 mg kg^-1 of liraglutide did not improve sperm motility and viability, while ameliorated sperm count and chromatin condensation and DNA integrity in diabetic animals. The diabetic animals represented diminished preimplantation embryo development, which was not altered in liraglutide-received groups. In conclusion, at least in administrated doses, liraglutide could not improve the sperm viability and motility and, via this mechanism, could not induce an appropriate/beneficial effect on IVF outcome.

Abstract Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has toxic effects through the induction of oxidative stress in the body and testicles. Vitamin E (Vit E) is a dietary compound that functions as an antioxidant scavenging toxic free radicals. The present study aimed to probe the protective effect of Vit E against PVC-induced reprotoxicity in male rats. In this experimental study, 24 male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6) including control, Vit E (150 mg kg^-1 per day; orally), PVC (1000 mg kg^-1 per day; orally) and PVC + Vit E. After 40 days, rats were euthanized and epididymal sperms characteristics, embryo development and malondialdehyde (MDA) and testosterone levels were examined. The PVC decreased sperm count, motility and viability as well as testosterone level and increased sperms with damaged chromatin in comparison with controls. Also, the percentages of fertilization, two-cell embryos and blastocysts as well as MDA levels were decreased in PVC-treated rats. However, Vit E improved PVC-induced alterations in aforesaid parameters. The results indicated that PVC can reduce fertility potential in male rats probably through androgen and sperm quality and quantity reductions, while Vit E can exert protective effects in PVC-related reproductive toxicities.

Abstract It is well documented that aging has negative effects on fertility. With increasing age, the activity of antioxidant enzymes are reduced and because of roosters sperm composition, a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), the probability of sperm damage increases. The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of nano-selenium and sodium selenite on fertility in aged male broiler breeder chickens. Thirty-five male broiler breeders (Cobb 500)^® at 50 weeks of age were randomly divided into five equal groups: The control group was fed on a commercial diet, group T1 was fed on a commercial diet supplemented with sodium selenite (0.30 mg kg^-1 feed), group T2, T3 and T4 were fed on a commercial diet supplemented with nano-selenium (0.15, 0.30 and 0.60 mg kg^-1 feed, respectively). Sperm characteristics (sperm count, motility, viability, and maturity) as well as testicular histomorphometric features [tubule differentiation (TDI), spermiation (SPI), Sertoli cell (SCI) and miotic (MI) indices] were assessed. The results showed that sperm characteristics were gradually decreased with age in the control group, however, it increased in group T3. Also, TDI, SPI, SCI, and MI in group T3 were higher than those of other groups. Our findings revealed that dietary supplementations with nano-selenium boosted fertility in aged male broiler breeders and the best results were obtained when the roosters received 0.30 mg kg^-1 nano-selenium. Supplementation of nano-selenium in aged broiler breeder males might be effective to maintain flock fertility and/or increase the flock fertility.

Abstract In order to conduct this study, eight adult turkey heads were obtained. Pituitary glands were harvested following cranial bones removal and examined morphologically and anatomically as well as topographically. Then, tissue sections were prepared and stained using Hematoxylin and Eosin, Alcian blue, orange G and periodic acid-Schiff staining techniques. The results showed that turkey pituitary gland as a pea-sized structure is located in the ventral part of the cerebrum and composed of adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis parts. Moreover, histological analyses revealed that sinusoids are well-developed at the distal part of the adenohypophysis and irregular masses of endocrine cells exist among them. Distributions of basophilic cells in the distal part of adenohypophysis were significantly higher than those of other endocrine cells, while the acidophilic cells had the lowest distribution. Lower and higher numbers of chromophobe cells were also found compared to those of basophilic and acidophilic cells, respectively. These findings were mostly similar to the other birds’ pituitary gland anatomical and histological features, but there were also differences in cellular elements distributions along with infundibular cavity topography.