shima hosseinifar

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most important endocrine disorders affecting about 5-10% of women in reproductive age. Betaine is a bioactive peptide that has an anti-inflammatory activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of betaine on insulin resistance indices and inflammatory cytokines markers and histology alteration in rat ovary with experimental PCOS. This experimental study was performed on 48 female Wistar rats (170-200 g). PCOS was induced by administration of testosterone enanthate (1 mg/100g/day during 35 days). PCOS rats were treated with betaine (1% in drinking water) for 30 days. At the end of the experimental period, the insulin resistance markers (serum insulin and glucose concentrations the homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and inflammatory cytokines were measured. The ovaries were also processed for histological study. PCOS induction resulted in insulin resistance, impaired E2, P4 production and elevation of tissue TNF-α, IL-1β levels. Moreover, a significant increase of ovarian cysts and atretic follicles and also a significant reduction in the early corpus luteum were observed in the ovarian tissue of the PCOS groups. Betaine treatment could reduce the inflammatory cytokines and improve steroid productions in PCOS rats. Betaine also restored normal Folliculogenesis by reducing atretic and cystic follicles. Our findings showed the beneficial effects of betaine in PCOS rats by improvement of folliculogenesis, suppression of inflammation in ovary.

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on performance, blood and reproductive parameters in Japanese quail. 320 one-day-old quail chicks were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 replications. Treatments were included 1- untreated (control), 2- levothyroxine (70 μg / l), 3- propylthiouracil (15 mg / l) and 4- propylthiouracil first and then levothyroxine. Performance parameters were recorded weekly. On day 42 of rearing, one male and one female were selected from each replicate and blood samples were taken to evaluate blood parameters. On day 62 of rearing, the bird's eggs were collected and transferred to the incubator. Food conversion ratio, feed intake and weight gain were not affected by the treatments. In male blood serum, triglyceride concentration in all therapeutic treatments and alanine aminotransferase concentration in propylthiouracil-levothyroxine treatment significantly reduced (P≤0.05). In female birds, blood LDL concentration decreased in levothyroxine treatment compared to control and alanine aminotransferase increased in this treatment compared to other groups (P≤0.05). The highest serum alkaline phosphatase concentration of females was observed in propylthiouracil treatment (P≤0.05). Other blood biochemical parameters and fertility percentage were not affected by the treatments. The lowest percentage of total hatching and hatching of fertile eggs and the highest percentage of embryonic mortality were related to the treatment of propylthiouracil-levothyroxine (P≤0.05). In conclusion, induction of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism with drugs did not have a significant effect on most functional, reproductive and blood parameters in Japanese quail.

Cisplatin (CP) as an important chemotherapeutic drug is used for the treatment of various malignancies; but it has some side effects on central nervous system, in particular hippocampus. The present study was aimed to determine the protective effects of Aloe vera (AV) gel on CP-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and neurons structure changes in the hippocampus of rats. Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups including control, CP (5 mg kg-1 per week; intra-peritoneally), CP + AV (400 mg kg-1 per day; orally), CP + metformin (200 mg kg-1 per day; orally), AV (400 mg kg-1 per day; orally) and metformin (200 mg kg-1 per day; orally). At the end of treatment, brain samples were obtained for analysis of apoptotic genes expression and anti-oxidant markers as well as histological study. The results showed that CP caused an increase in malondialdehyde level and a decrease in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels in CP group compared to control. The AV gel could diminish oxidative stress in the hippocampus of CP group and it resulted in down-regulation of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 and up-regulation of Bcl-2 in CP group. It could ameliorate degenerative changes in hippocampus after exposure to CP. Our results showed that AV gel ameliorated oxidative stress, apoptosis and neuronal loss in the hippocampus of rats under CP treatment.

With the aim of investigation, the effects of oak acorn (OA) (0 or 20 % of diet) and tannin-reducing feed additives (without additive, 10 g polyethylene glycol (PEG)/kg of diet and 0.25 % diet sodium bicarbonate) on performance and liver and kidney tissues of broiler chickens, a total of 480 Ross 308 broiler chicks (average body weight of 41 gram and same male to female ratio) were distributed among 6 experimental treatments (4 replicates of 20 birds) in a 2×3 factorial arrangement and reared for 42 days. The results indicated that application of OA had no significant effect of overall feed conversion ratio, but significantly decreased overall body weight gain. However, sodium bicarbonate improved overall body weight gain, compared to the diet without additive. Feeding birds with OA significantly increased relative weight of gizzard, ileum and caecum at 24 d of age and relative weight of caecum and duodenum at 42 d of age. On d 24, more sever cellular congestion was observed in liver tissue of OA fed birds, but on d 42, the number of liver fat vacuole was less in these birds. Feeding with OA increased diameter of renal corpuscle. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 20% OA had no significant effects on feed conversion ratio and liver as well as kidney tissue of broilers, but because of significant reduction in overall body weight gain and production efficiency factor, this level is not recommended. However, inclusion of additives did not prevent this reduction.

Cisplatin is an effective antineoplastic drug that is used to treat varioustypes of cancers. However, it causes side effects on the male reproductive system. The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of Aloe vera gel (known as an antioxidant plant) on cisplatin-induced changes in rat spermparameters, testicular structure, and oxidative stress markers.

In this experimental study, forty-eight adult male rats were divided into 6 groups including: control, cisplatin (CIS), A. vera (AL), metformin (MET), cisplatin+A. vera (CIS-AL), and cisplatin+metformin (CIS-MET). Cisplatin was used intraperitoneally at a dose of 5 mg/kg on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the experiment. A. vera gel (400 mg/kg per day) and metformin (200 mg/kg per day) were administered orally for 35 days (started one week before the beginning of the experiment). Testes weight and dimensions, and morphometrical and histological alterations, activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), serum testosterone concentration, lipid peroxidation level, and sperm parameters were examined.  

Cisplatin caused a significant decrease (p <0.05) in relative weight and dimension of the testis, germinal epithelium thickness and diameter of seminiferoustubules, the numbers of testicular cells, and spermatogenesis indexes.The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased and antioxidant enzymes activities decreased in the CIS group compared to the control group (p <0.05). Additionally, sperm parameters (concentration, viability, motility, and normal morphology), and testosterone levels reduced significantly in cisplatin-treated rats (p <0.05). Also, cisplatin induced histopathological damages including disorganization, desquamation, atrophy, and vacuolation in the testis. However, administration of A. vera gel to cisplatin-treated rats attenuated the cisplatin-induced alterations, mitigated testicular oxidative stress and increased testosterone concentration.  

The results suggest that A. vera as a potential antioxidant plant and due to free radicals scavenging activities, has a protective effect against cisplatin-induced testicular alterations.

Betaine has improving role in adipose tissue function and insulin activity. On the other hand, a highcalorie diet has complex effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of betaine on pituitary histomorphometry and oxidative index of rats fed with high-calorie diet.

24 wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of control, fed with standard food, obesity with 10 weeks of feeding with high-calorie diet and then intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (20 mg/kg), obesity/betaine with 10 weeks of feeding with high-calorie diet, intraperitoneal streptozotocin, and then oral betaine for 28 days, and betaine with oral betaine for 28 days. At the end of the study, the histomorphometric structure of the pituitary glands [using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)] and oxidative stress indices such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) [using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)]were evaluated.

Body weight, blood sugar, insulin level, and insulin resistance index increased significantly in the obese group compared to the control group. The number of acidophilic and basophilic cells in the peripheral and central parts of the posterior pituitary gland decreased in the obese group. Serum levels of SOD, GPX, and catalase showed a significant increase in the obese group compared to the control group and in obese/betaine group compared to the obese group. Serum MDA levels increased in the obese group compared to the control group, and decreased in the obese/betaine group in compared to the obese group.

It is seems that betaine consumption had beneficial and protective effects on the pituitary gland and antioxidant capacity in rat fed with high-calorie diet, by reducing insulin resistance, reducing oxidative stress, and improving the pituitary tissue structure.

Sesame seeds contain phytoestrogens and antioxidants that can affect the reproductive system. As the seminal vesicle is important in male reproductive activity, in the present study, effects of Sesame seeds consumption on histomorphometric structure of seminal vesicle in young adult rats were evaluated. 

In this study, 40 adult and young rats were divided into 4 groups. Each young and old control group, were divided into 2 groups (30 days and 60 days) and fed with pellet (28 grams) daily. The treatment group was divided into two groups (30 and 60 days old) and fed with 8.5 grams of Sesame seeds and 19.5 grams of pellet (30% and 70% of the diet) daily. At the end of study, rats were euthanased and seminal vesicle were collected. The tissue sections of samples were prepared using standard tissue sectioning (thickness of 5-6 μm) and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin. Blood testosterone levels were measured too. 

Histomorphometric evaluation of seminal vesicle in young rats fed with sesame for 30 and 60 days showed that the thicknesses of the epithelial tissue, muscular and whole wall layer were significantly increased. In old rats fed for 30 and 60 days, the thickness of muscular layer and whole wall were significantly increased. Testosterone level was increased in young rats fed with Sesame. There were no significant effects in the structure of the seminal vesicle in older rats compared with young rats following sesame consumption.

Following age, a little tissue changes were seen in the seminal vesicle structure and it seems that Sesame can increasing the thickness of seminal epithelial tissue.