فهرست مطالب shapour hasanzadeh

Effect of nicotine on male and female mammal fertility capability. Nicotine decrease reproduction and cause infertility in each sex. It causes disorder in luteal phase by inhibition of release progesterone. In present study cellular effects of nicotine were studied on rat ovary by histochemichal methods.  Fifteen rats were selected as three groups which each group contained five animals. Control group, once treatment samples received low dose nicotine (0.2 Mg/Kg) daily and second treatment samples received high dose nicotine (0.4 Mg/Kg) daily during twenty one days. injection was given intraperitoneally. rats were killed by carbon dioxide and ovaries were removed and frozen, and then were sectioned by cry microtome with thickness 10 µm were prepared. stained by Oil-Red-O, Sudan Black B and PAS method. And were examined by light microscope. Results appeared that, in low dose group follicular fluid, some of the growing follicles, and cystic follicles were PAS positive. All of the positive effects were observed in high dose group too but accuracy of follicle degeneracies was more in this group. Obtained results appeared many Oil-Red-O positive areas in treated ovaries that it guidance cell degeneration and unused cell energy source. Many distributed Oil-Red-o and PAS Positive area in treated group appeared that nicotine cause cellular degeneration. Therefore degenerative effects of nicotine on ovary can be  cause infertility in female animals.

Esters of phthalates, particularly di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) generally utilized in plastic industry are environmental hazardous pollutants, has toxic effects on body systems, including reproductive system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Achillea millefolium on rats’ sperm exposed to DEHP.

In this study, 45 male rats were randomly divided into 9 groups. 1- Control, 2- sham, received corn oil, 3- received 75mg/kg/day hydro alcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium inflorescence, 4- Low-dose diethyl-hexyl–phthalate (DEHP1), 5- Low-dose diethyl-hexyl–phthalate+Achillea millefolium, (DEHP1+A) 6- Medium-dose diethyl-hexyl–phthalate (DEHP2), 7- Medium-dose diethyl-hexyl–phthalate + Achillea millefolium, (DEHP2+A) 8- High-dose diethyl-hexyl–phthalate (DEHP3), 9- High-dose diethyl-hexyl–phthalate + Achillea millefolium (DEHP3+A). All of groups except the control group were treated by gavage for 40 days. After euthanized, the epididymal sperms are collected to investigate the sperm parameters. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests.

di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate significantly (P<0.05) decreased the sperm parameters including, count, viability, motility and maturation of the nucleus and significantly increased the breakage of sperm nuclear DNA in comparison to control group. Achillea millefolium inflorescence hydro alcoholic extract had a positive effect on these parameters.

More likely Achillea millefolium inflorescence hydro alcoholic extract has antioxidant effects thus reduces the injurious effects of di-ethylhexyl phthalate on sperm parameters.

Diabetes mellitus has adverse effects on reproductive system. Antidiabetic drugs are likely to develop impairment of fertility. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the adverse effects of antidiabetic drug liraglutide on in vitro fertilization.

A total of 48 adult female mice, were divided into 6 groups of 8 each, as follows: control group that did not receive the drug; non-diabetic group received liraglutide at a dose of 1.2 mg/kg BW; the non-diabetic group that was given liraglutide at a dose of 1.8 mg/kg BW; diabetic group that did not received liraglutide; diabetic group that received liraglutide at a dose of 1.2 mg/kg BW; and diabetic group that received that was given liraglutide at the dose of 1.8 mg/kg BW. Liraglutide was daily injected through subcutaneous route. After 35 days of treatment, the fertility potentials of the retrieved oocytes, was evaluated. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test.

In the diabetic group, a significant decrease (p < 0.05), were observed in the number of oocytes, percentages of fertilization, percentages of two-cell, four-cell, morula, blastocysts, and hatched embryos compared to the control group. In both diabetic groups receiving the drug, there was a decrease in the aforementioned parameters, but compared to the untreated diabetic group, there was an increase in these parameters.

The results revealed that administration of liraglutide in diabetic mice improved fertility and increased the percentage of fertility and Embryos.

Busulfan (BSF) besides the therapeutic effects, performs oxidative stress and decreasing fertilizing capacity. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Crocin, on in vitro fertilization (IVF) process in busolfan treated mice. In this study eighteen mature female mice (25g), were divided into 6 groups and treated for 21 days. The control group received alone resolvent of busulfan (0.1 ml) intraperitoneally (IP) single dose, and sham control group received BSF alone (10mg/kg, IP/single dose) and experimental groups 1, 2, 3 received BSF(10mg/kg/single dose) with Crocin (100, 200, 400mg/kg/day, IP). Positive control group received alone Crocin (400mg/kg, IP/day). At the end of the treatment period, animals were euthanized and after performing the IVF, early embryo development was evaluated. The obtained data were compared between all groups and analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results showed that, the administration of crocin along with busulfan increased significantly oocyte quality, fertilization rate, pre-implantation embryonic development and quality of embryo in comparison to group that received busulfan (P<0.05). In addition, in the group that received crocin any toxicity has not been observed. The present study indicated that crocin can protect female fertility potential against busulfan induced damages.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is known to reduce fertility. The protective effects of Spirulina plantesis (SP) against CP-induced testicular toxicity were investigated. Male Wistar rats were categorized into eight groups (n = 7). Four groups of rats were administered CP at a dose of 5 mg in 5 mL distilled water kg-1 per day orally. Two of these groups were received SP (500 and 1000 mg kg-1 per day) orally after CP administration. One of these groups was also received vitamin E (100 mg kg-1 per day) intraperitoneally. A vehicle treated control group, two SP control groups (500 and 1000 mg kg-1 per day) and a vitamin E control group were also included. Body and testes weights, sperm count, serum levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA), histological and histomorphometric alternations in testes were investigated after four weeks. The CP-treated group exhibited significant decreases in the body and testes weights and spermatogenic activities. Several histological alterations were observed in this group. The CP treatment caused a significant reduction in sperm count, in serum level of GPx, as well increased serum concentration of MDA. The SP co-administration caused an increase in GPx serum level, a decrease in MDA serum level and improvements in histological and histomorphometric alternations. Vitamin E co-treatment showed partial recovery in above-mentioned parameters. These results suggest that SP due to a reduction in oxidative stress has more effective protection against CP-induced reproductive damages in rat than vitamin E.

Fluoxetine (FLX) application as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug that accompanies side effects including reproductive dysfunctions. The current study was designed to explore the effects of FLX on rat spermatogenesis as well as spermatogonial stem cells self-renewal through evaluation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-1 (GFRα1) expression at mRNA level in testicular tissue.
Adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was subdivided into two groups which received 5 mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day of FLX orally for 48 days. Testicular tissue samples were collected 24 hours after the last treatment and histological assessments and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were done to analyze spermatogenesis and mRNA expression of GFRα1, respectively.
Treatment with FLX caused spermatozoa maturation arrest in a dose-dependent manner as was evident by significant decreases in spermatogenic indices. Moreover, FLX administration at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day resulted in significant reduction in mRNA expression of GFRα1 in testicular tissue.
These findings suggest that FLX induces male reproductive toxicities via disruption of spermatogonial stem cells self-renewal, bringing about the necessity of more researches about the precise mechanisms of SSRI antidepressants-induced spermatogenic failures.

After discovery of the harmful effects of antibiotics on health of poultry flocks and humans efforts in using alternative materials increased. Some of the most appropriate materials known and used are prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in Histomorphometry parameters of jejunum, as the main location of food absorption, in the Japanese quail. The effect of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in jejunum was studied using a 2×4 factorial experiment with two levels of protein (recommended and 10% less than requirements) and four treatments of additives (without additives, probiotic Gallipro, prebiotic Technomos and a mixture of them in a completely randomized design with eight treatments and four replicates and 25 birds per replicate). Results indicated a significant increase in villus height:crypt depth ratio in groups nourished with protein deficiency (P

Background and Atrazine causes some biological effects including atresia in ovarian folicules. Essense and aqueous extract of Achillea milifolium and vitamin E are important due to prevention of atresia. Therefore, the effects of these substances were evaluated in ovarian tissue.
42 adult female rats were used. 1st and 2nd groups were received atrazine at rates 300 mg/kg/day and 150 mg/mg/day respectively. 3rd and 4th groups were received atrazine at rates 300 mg/kg/day and 150 mg/mg/day respectively along with 150 mg/kg/day water extract of A. milifolium. 5th and 6th groups were received atrazine at rates 300 mg/kg/day and 150 mg/mg/day respectively along with 100 mg/kg/day essence of A. milifolium. 7th and 8th groups were received atrazine at rates 300 mg/kg/day and 150 mg/mg/day respectively and on first day 150 mg/kg a single dose of vitamin E. Microscopic sections were prepared from ovaries. Data were statistically analyzed.
Histomorphometric studies revealed that, the severity of changes in untreated groups with essence and aqueous extract of A. milifolium were more than those groups had been treated with these substances. The results showed highly significant differences (p The essence and aqueous extracts of the A. milifolium and vitamin E is effective in reduction of adverse changes of ovarian follicles following atrazine exposure.

Nicotine (NIC) adversely influences male reproductive system. Achillea millefolium (Achm) as a medicinal plant is highly regarded for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study was conducted to assess whether Achminflorescences alcoholic extract could serve as a protective agent against reproductive toxicity in NIC-exposed male rats. Adult male rats were randomly divided into six groups. Two groups received NIC at doses of 0.20 and 0.40 mg kg-1 per day in 0.50 mL sterile distilled water for 48 days intraperitoneally, respectively. The further two groups received NIC at doses of 0.20 and 0.40 mg kg-1 per day in 0.50 mL sterile distilled water for intraperitoneally along with Achm extract at a dose of 1.20 g kg-1 per day in 1 mL sterile distilled water orally for 48 days, respectively. A vehicle treated control group and an Achm-only treated group were also included. The NIC-exposed groups showed significant reductions in epididymal sperm count, motility, viability and serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone as well as testicular antioxidant capacity. Moreover, the incidence of apoptosis and abnormality in spermatozoa along with testicular malondialdehyde and total nitrite levels were significantly higher in NIC-treated rats. The above-mentioned parameters were restored to near normal levels by Achm co-administration. These findings indicated thatAchmmay partially be protective against NIC-induced testicular toxicity.

Present study was performed in order to uncover new aspects for nicotine-induced damages on spermatogenesis cell lineage.
For this purpose, 36 mature male Wistar rats were divided into three groups as; control-sham (0.2 ml, saline normal, IP), low dose (0.2 mg/kg BW-1, IP) nicotine-received and high dose (0.4 mg/kg BW-1, IP) nicotine-received groups. Following 7 weeks, the expression of bcl-2, p53 and caspase-3 at mRNA and protein levels were investigated by using reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses, respectively. Moreover, the serum level of FSH, LH and testosterone were evaluated. Finally, the mRNA damage was analyzed by using special fluorescent staining.
Nicotine, at both dose levels, decreased tubular differentiation, spermiogenesis and repopulation indices and enhanced cellular depletion. Animals in nicotine-received groups exhibited a significant (P Our data showed that, nicotine by suppressing the testosterone biosynthesis, reducing mRNA and protein levels of bcl-2 and up regulating the p53 and caspase-3 mRNA and protein levels adversely affects the spermatogenesis and results in cellular depletion.

Achillea millefolium Inflorescences (AMI) is one of the oldest and most well-known medicinal plants with potential antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of three different doses of hydroalcoholic extract of AMI on in vitro fertilization and embryonic development process in mice.
Twenty-four male white laboratory NMRI mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Group 1 received normal saline (0.1 ml/kg); group 2, 3, and 4 received hydroalcoholic extract of AMI at doses of 75, 150, and 300mg/kg, respectively. Treatment were continued for 35 days. At the end, the mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation, Cauda Epididymis were used to collect sperms, and rate of in vitro fertilization and embryonic development were examined in all groups. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests.
In the groups receiving low and medium doses of AMI extract, fertilization rate and the number of blastocysts increased and the number of arrested embryos was reduced, which was not significant compared to the control group. But in the group receiving high dose of the extract, fertilization rate and the number of blastocysts decreased (p According to the results of this study, hydroalcoholic extract of AMI has a dose-dependent manner, so that at low and medium doses had no significant effect, but at high dose reduced in vitro fertilization and embryos development.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a common probiotic, can induce in vitro apoptosis in human cancer cells, which could explain its antitumor activity..
The present study was conducted to investigate the in vitro effects of a cytoplasmic extract from S. cerevisiae on the proliferation and viability of a K562 (chronic myeloid leukemia) cell line..
S. cerevisiae was cultured and then disrupted by sonication. After centrifugation, the harvested supernatant was considered to be a cytoplasmic extract. The protein concentration was determined by the Biuret method and the extract was diluted to concentrations of 500, 1000, and 2000 µg protein/ml. The frequencies of apoptosis and necrosis were assessed in extract-treated K562 cells by electrophoresis to show DNA segmentation and by flow cytometry..
The cytoplasmic extract exhibited a time-dependent antitumor activity. DNA electrophoresis did not reveal apoptosis and necrosis in the treated cells, but the DNA bands were weak. The flow cytometry results indicated the induction of apoptosis as well as necrosis in the K562 cell line and the intensity of apoptosis increased with time..
The cytoplasmic extract of S. cerevisiae investigated here may inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis of chronic myeloid leukemia cells..

Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, which has a broad-spectrum activity against bacteria. Recently, its adverse effects on the reproductive system, was revealed. The aim of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of ceftriaxone on testicular tissue in adult male mice.
A total of 40 adult male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: Control group received normal saline; the first and second experimental groups, respectively, received ceftriaxone at doses of 20 and 50mg/kg bw for 7 days; and the third and fourth groups, respectively, received 20 and 50mg/kg bw of the drug for 45 days. After preparation of tissue sections, routine and specific staining was performed, and histological, histomorphometric, and histochemical studies were carried out. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. Significance level was considered as p The histological evaluations in experimental groups showed changes as atrophy of some seminiferous tubules, decrease in the spermatogenesis and sertoli as well as disruption and disintegration. Morphometric studies showed significant decreases (p0.05) in the interstitial tissue thickness in all the experimental groups compared to the control group. In the experimental groups, Sudan Black and alkaline phosphatase reactions were intense, while PAS reaction was weak.
Ceftriaxone damages testicular structure, which includes loss of balance of the spermatogenic cell population and decrease in the spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis processes.

Background and Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a chemotherapy drug extensively used as an antineoplastic agent in treatment of various cancers. However, it is known to cause several adverse effects including reproductive toxicity. Achillea millefolium (AM) is a medicinal plant with potential antioxidant properties. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of different doses of AM extract on body weight, sperm parameters, and apoptotic changes in CP treated mice.
Sixty four male NMRI mice were arranged into 8 groups. Group1 received normal saline, and groups 2, 3 and 4 received AM extract in low, medium and high doses, respectively. Group 5 received CP and groups 6, 7 and 8 had low, medium and high doses of Achillea millefolium extract, respectively plus CP. Treatments were continued for 35 days. Afterwards, the animals’ weight, sperm quality and apoptosis rate were evaluated.
CP decreased body weight and testicular weight, imposed negative effects on sperm parameters and increased sperm apoptosis compared to the control group. The high-dose of AM produced deleterious effects. Medium doses of the extract did not show any significant effect, but low dose of the extract was able to compensate the toxic effects of CP.
In this study, AM had dose-dependent manner. In other words, at low dose it prevented CP toxicity, in medium dose it had no effect, but in high dose it improved CP toxicity.

Smoking is a considerable problem in modern populations. Nicotine, as an important noxious material in cigarette, has dangerous effects on different body tissues such as genital system. In this study the noxious effect of nicotine was investigated in rat ovarian follicles by histomorphometry technique. Three groups of mature female rats including control, low-dose nicotine (0.2mg/kg.BW), and high-dose nicotine (0.4mg/kg.BW) were planned. Nicotine was injected through intraperitoneal route for 21 consecutive days. Then, the rats were euthanized by carbon dioxide and immediately their ovaries were removed and fixed in formal saline solution. The specimens were processed through routine paraffin embedding method, serially sectioned by microtome, stained with hematoxylin-Eosin technique and investigated by light microscope. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison tests. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results of this study demonstrated that distribution of ovarian follicles in animals receiving either low or high doses of nicotine decreased significantly, whereas distribution of atretic follicles notably increased as compared with the control group. Based on the results of this study, on a dose-related pattern, nicotine could decrease the population of the healthy ovarian follicles, whereas increased the population of the atretic ovarian follicles. This indicates reduction of fertility in affected animals.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a reproductive key hormone. The GnRH analogues are widely used in in vitro fertilization and treatment of sex hormone-depended cancers induced by the materials used in chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of cyclophosphamide and decapeptyl (analogues of GnRH) on histomorphometry and stereology of testicular tissue as well as gonadotropic and gonadal hormones indices in mice. For this study, 24 adult male Balb/C strain mice were divided in four groups; first, cyclophosphamide (65 mg/kg/body weight (BW)), second, decapeptyl (0.05 mg/kg/BW), third, decapeptyl at first, and after 10 days of cyclophosphamide injection, and control group was received same volume of sterile saline. In order to evaluate the tissue changes in testes of the mice, sections were prepared and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosine, Periodic Acid Schief''s (PAS) and Oil-Red-O staining techniques. The cyclophosphamide causes histomorphologic changes in the testicular tissue; whereas such changes by decapeptyl were comparatively mild. The morphometric results revealed significant reduction in diameters of seminiferous tubules (p=0.02), and the stereological results confirmed significant differences in spermatogenesis (SI) as well as rate of tubal differentiation (TDI) indices between experimental and control groups (p=0.001). In addition, the morphometric findings proved that, there are significant decrease (p=0.001) in thicknesses of epithelia and stereologic result revealed reduction in number of cell layers in both decapeptyl and chemotherapy groups, but the decrements of these parameters were significant (p=0.02) in later group. In groups that had received cyclophosphamide, and decapeptyl alone, the LH and testosterone levels were decreased significantly (p=0.03), whereas in those that had received decapeptyl along with cyclophosphamide, the LH and FSH levels showed a decline but the level of testosterone increased. These results demonstrated that, analogue of GnRH i.e., decapeptyl protect morphologic, morphometric, and stereologic alterations of the testes tissue, as well as gonadotropic and gonadal hormonal changes preceding cyclophosphamide treatment in male mice.

Pyridaben, a pyridazinone derivative, is a new acaricide and insecticide for control of mites and some insects such as white flies, aphids and thrips. This study was designed to elucidate how pyridaben can affect the sperms'' morphological parameters, its DNA integrity, and to estimate the effect of various quantities of pyridaben on in vitro fertilization rate. In this study, 80 adult male Balb/C strain mice were used. Animals were divided into control and two test groups. Control group received distilled water. The test group was divided into two subgroups, viz, high dose (212 mg/kg/day) and low dose (53 mg/kg/day) and they received the pyridaben, orally for duration of 45 days. The spermatozoa were obtained from caudae epididymides on day 45 in all groups. Sperm viability, protamin compression (nuclear maturity), DNA double-strand breaks, and in vitro fertilizing (IVF) ability were examined. The pyridaben treatment provoked a significant decrease in sperm population and viability in epididymides. The data obtained from this experiment revealed that, the pyridaben brings about negative impact on the sperm maturation and DNA integrity in a time-dependent manner, which consequently caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in IVF capability. Embryo developing arrest was significantly (p<0.05) higher in treated than the control group. Theses results confirmed that, the pyridaben is able to induce DNA damage and chromatin abnormalities in spermatozoa which were evident by low IVF rate.

The adverse effects of pyridaben on reproductive system in male animals are not well established. This study was designed to elucidate how pyridaben can effects the histomorphometric, hormonal alternations and reproductive functions of BALB/c mice. For this study, 80 adult and apparently healthy male BALB/c mice were divided into three groups Viz, control, test group 1 and test group 2. Test groups 1 and 2 were received the toxin at doses of 53 mg/kg. BW, and 212 mg/kg. BW, respectively. The experiment period for both groups was 10, 25 and 45 days. The levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were significantly (P<0.05) decreased on the dose and time dependant means. The levels of the ROS and NOS were significantly (P<0.05) increased in all test groups. The percent body weight gains significantly (P<0.05) reduced, whereas weights significantly (P<0.05) increased in test groups in a dose and time dependant manner. The histomorphometric and stereologic findings, including diameters of somniferous tubules, thickness of somniferous tubules epithelium, the leydig''s cell distribution, TDI, SI, RI revealed that, all these parameters are also significantly (P<0.05) reduces in test groups in a dose and time dependant manner. Pyridaben causes histomorphometric and stereologic changes in testis, as well as hormonal and reproductive functional alternations in BALB/c mice.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of several malignancies. The use of DOX in clinical chemotherapy has been restricted due to its diverse toxicities, including reproductive toxicity. Crataegus monogyna (C. monogyna) is one of the oldest medicinal plants that have been shown to be cytoprotective because of scavenging free radicals. The present study was undertaken to determine whether C. monogyna fruits aqueous extract could serve as a protective agent against reproductive toxicity during DOX treatment in a rat model through antioxidant-mediated mechanisms. Male Wistar rats were allocated to four groups. Two groups of rats were treated with DOX at a dose of 4 mg/kg intraperitoneally on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 (accumulated dose of 20 mg/kg). One of the groups received C. monogyna fruits aqueous extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg per day orally for 28 days along with DOX. A vehicle-treated control group and a C. monogyna control group were also included. The DOX-treated group showed significant decreases in the body and organ weights and spermatogenic activities as well as many histological alterations. DOX treatment also caused a significant decrease in sperm count and motility with an increase in dead and abnormal sperms. Moreover, significant decrease in serum levels of testosterone and increased serum concentrations of FSH, LH, LDH, CPK, and SGOT were observed in DOX-treated rats. Notably, Crataegus co-administration caused a partial recovery in above-mentioned parameters. These findings indicated that doxorubicin can adversely damage the testicular tissue, while Crataegus co-administration could effectively prevent these adverse effects by effective inhibiting oxidative processes and restoration of antioxidant defense system.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which affects whole body systems including reproductive system. Diabetes is also a contributing factor to infertility. Metformin is one of the most common drugs to control hyperglycemia. In this study, 36 adult Sprague-Dawley female rats (170-210 g) were divided into 3 groups (control, diabetic and diabetic-treated by metformin). In second and third groups, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (45 mg kg-1, IP) and the third group was treated by metformin hydrochloride (100 mg kg-1 day-1, PO) for 8 weeks. Body weights were compared and blood glucose, gonadotropins and sexual hormones were measured. In diabetic group the blood glucose level significantly (P < 0.05) increased in comparison with that of control and metformin-treated diabetic rats. The results also revealed that, in the untreated diabetic rats, the mean body weights and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in comparison with the control. Although there were significant (P < 0.05) reduction in mean body weights in metformin-treated diabetic rats, reduction in pituitary-gonadal axis hormones was not as sharp as in untreated diabetic rats and only level of progesterone was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in comparison with the control. The results of this investigation revealed that there was a clear relationship between experimental diabetes with body weight and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones, and treatment with metformin relatively restored diabetic complications.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the defense cells changes of cervical mucous during ollicular and luteal phases of estrus cycle in river buffalo. Reproductive organs of the adult nd apparently healthy female buffaloes were collected from the slaughterhouse. By isual nvestigation of both the ovaries for presence of corpus luteum and growing follicles, the luteal and follicular phase of each buffalo was specified. Cervical discharge samples were collected by sterile swabs and then spread over the glass slides, dried and fixed with methanol. The specimens were undergone Giemsa staining. The percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes (macrophages), eosinophils and basophils in each case (for both the follicular and luteal phases) were obtained at 20 microscopic fields. The percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophils and basophils in luteal phase were higher than the follicular phase. The percentage of eosinophils in follicular phase was higher than the luteal phase. The percentage of monocytes (macrophages) in luteal and follicular phases was nearly equal. The statistical analysis showed that the differences of all cells between follicular and luteal phase were not significant (P > 0.05). The most defense cells in discharges of external os of cervix (both follicular and luteal phases) were neutrophils and lymphocytes

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is extensively used as an antineoplastic agent for the treatment of various cancers, as well as an immunosuppressive agent. However, despite its wide spectrum of clinical uses, CP is known to cause several adverse effects including reproductive toxicity. Crataegus monogyna is one of the oldest pharmaceutical plants that have been shown to be cytoprotective by scavenging free radicals. The present study was conducted to assess whether Crataegus monogyna fruits aqueous extract with anti-oxidant properties, could serve as a protective agent against reproductive toxicity during CP treatment in a rat model. Male Wistar rats were categorized into four groups. Two groups of rats were administered CP at a dose of 5 mg in 5 ml saline/kg/day for 28 days by oral gavages. One of these groups received Crataegus monogyna aqueous extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day orally four hours after cyclophosphamide administration. A vehicle treated control group and a Crataegus monogyna control group were also included. The CP-treated group showed significant decreases in the body, testes and epididymides weights as well as many histological alterations. Stereological parameters and spermatogenic activities (Sertoli cell, repopulation and miotic indices) were also significantly decreased by CP treatment. Notably, Crataegus coadministration caused a partial recovery in above-mentined parameters. These findings indicate that Crataegus monogyna may be partially protective against CP-induced testicular toxicity.

Objective(s) This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of diabetes on the structure and function of testicular tissue. Materials and MethodsDiabetes was induced in male adult rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Body and testicular weight, hormonal analyses, histological and ultrastructural analyses were measured. ResultsThe body and testicular weights were dropped significantly (P< 0.05) in diabetic rats in comparison with control rats. On the other hand, in diabetic rats, the blood glucose level increased significantly (P< 0.05). The blood plasma levels of testosterone, 17-β estradiol, progesterone, FSH and LH were reduced in diabetic rats. Histomorphological studies were revealed reduction in diameter of seminiferous tubules and germinal epithelium height, edema in interstitial tissue, germ cell depletion, decrease in cellular population and activity with disruption of spermatogenesis in diabetic rats. Ultrastructural study showed the mitochondrial change and reduction of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in Sertoli and presence of lipid droplets in Leydig cells of diabetic rat’s testes. ConclusionThe results of the present study confirmed that, the ultrastructural changes of Sertoli and Leydig cells, brought about by streptozotocininduced diabetes, because of the alterations in pituitary gonadotropins, and these changes influence the normal spermatogenesis in rats.

In this investigation, diabetes was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 45 mg kg-1 of body weight. A group comprised of 8 diabetic rats was treated with metformin at 100 mg kg-1 of body weight for reducing the elevated blood glucose level. The results revealed that, in the untreated diabetic rats, the body and testicular weight reduced in comparison with the control rats (P < 0.05), the metformin treated diabetic rats showed body weight loss in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). In the untreated diabetic rats, the blood glucose level significantly increased in comparison with control and metformin treated diabetic rats. Histomorphological examinations revealed a reduction in testicular capsule diameter, seminiferous tubules (STs) and germinal epithelium height, increase of amorphous material of interstitial tissue, germ cell depletion, decrease in cellular population and activity and disruption of spermatogenesis in the untreated diabetic rats in comparison with control group. In metformin treated diabetic rats, the histomorphological alterations were seen in lesser part in comparison with untreated diabetic group. The results from this study proved that, there was a direct relationship between increased levels of blood glucose as a result of STZ-induced diabetes and the histomorphological changes of testicular tissue.