Oxidative stress and testosterone

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus induces fertility problems in men, mainly because of increased free radicals. Natural resources are effective for male infertility treatment. This study investigated the effects of harmine, an alkaloid available in Peganum harmala L., on the male reproductive system of diabetic rats. METHODS: We divided 32 rats into four groups, and eight were randomly placed in each group. For diabetes induction, the animals received 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin intraperitoneally...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulation and infertility in women. Inflammation and oxidative stress are considered to be the causes of ovarian dysfunction in PCOS. Dimethyl itaconate, as a macrophage-derived immunometabolite, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, but limited data are available about its effect on female reproductive dysfunctions. The present study aimed to determine the effects of dimethyl itaconate, a cell-permeable derivative of itaconate, on the histological changes, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the ovaries of PCOS rats...

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Phoenixin-14 (PNX-14) on oxidative damage, inflammatory response, histopathological variations, and serum testosterone levels in testicular tissues. Forty-eight Wistar albino prepubertal male rats were divided into 4 groups (Sham, TTD, TT+PNX+TD, TTD+PNX) (n=12). The torsion period was 2 hours and the detorsion period was 24 hours in the testicular torsion/detorsion (TD) groups. A single PNX-14 (50 µg/kg) dose was injected into the rats in the TT+PNX TD group on the 90th minute of torsion, and it was injected into the rats in the TTD+PNX group at the beginning of detorsion...

Doxorubicin (DOX) can be applied to treat several cancers. DOX-induced oxidative stress causes testicular damage. Diosmin (DIO), as a potent antioxidant, reduces many drugs' side effects. We determined DIO therapeutic effects on DOX-related testicular toxicity. Forty rats were assigned to five groups as control, DOX (2.5 mg/kg six i.p. injections at equal intervals over two weeks), DOX + DIO (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, orally, daily, for two weeks) groups. Oxidative and antioxidant markers, fertility parameters levels, sperm parameters, and a histopathological examination were analyzed...

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones (THs) regulate growth, development and function of different tissues. Hypothyroidism is a common clinical disorder characterized by deficiency in THs and adversely affects the development and functions of several organs. This work aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of eltroxin (ELT), a hypothyroidism medication, and hesperidin (HSP), a flavonoid, against testicular and renal toxicity in hypothyroid rats. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups and treated orally for 12 weeks...

The mounting evidence of valproate-induced testicular damage in clinical settings is alarming, especially for men taking valproate (VPA) for long-term or at high doses. Both donepezil (DON) and quercetin (QUE) have promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether DON, QUE, and their combination could mitigate VPA-induced testicular toxicity and unravel the mechanisms underlying their protective effect. In this study, male albino rats were randomly categorized into six equal groups: control, VPA (500 mg/kg, I...

Anemia poses a significant healthcare challenge across different socioeconomic groups and can result in reproductive system damage through the generation of free radicals and lipid peroxidation. This study examines the protective effects of quercetin (QUE) and mirtazapine (MIR) against the reproductive damage caused by phenylhydrazine (PHZ) in mice. Fifty NMRI mice, aged 8 to 10 weeks with an average weight of 27.0 ± 2.0 g, were randomly divided into five groups. The control group (Group 1) received oral administration of 10 mL/kg/day of normal saline...

INTRODUCTION: Androgens play important roles in regulating the growth and development of the male reproductive system and maintaining libido and erectile function. The specific mechanisms by which androgen deficiency leads to erectile dysfunction (ED) are not yet fully understood. OBJECTIVES: To understand the mechanisms and treatment of androgen deficiency-related ED. METHODS: A literature search in the past 10 years was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar to determine the effects of androgen deficiency on erectile function and the treatment of androgen deficiency...

OBJECTIVE: Clinacanthus nutans (C. nutans) is a medicinal herb that most people with diabetes have historically taken. It's a diet high in antioxidants, which are supposed to help people live longer and be healthier. It is the first study to suggest using C. nutans to enhance the quality of sperm in male mice given a streptozotocin (STZ) injection. METHODS: Sixty mice were divided into two groups at the age of four weeks: group one was fed a regular diet (n=10), while group two was administered a high-fat diet (n=50) for eight weeks to develop obesity...

Long-term antiretroviral drug toxicity may exacerbate the impact of HAART-Cyperus esculentus (C. esculentus) interactions on testicular function in HIV-infected individuals. This study examined the ability of C. esculentus plants to treat testicular dysfunction, which is thought to be a probable side effect of antiretroviral toxicity. Adult Wistar male rats weighing 90-110 g were divided into six groups and administered the prescribed treatments. In addition to testicular histology and stereological parameters, testosterone levels, follicle-stimulating hormone levels, antioxidant markers, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione levels were also evaluated...

BACKGROUND: High levels of testosterone (Testo) are associated with cardiovascular risk by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. NADPH oxidases (NOX) are the major source of ROS in the vasculature in cardiovascular diseases. NOX4 is a unique isotype, which produces hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), and its participation in cardiovascular biology is controversial. So far, it is unclear whether NOX4 protects from Testo-induced endothelial injury. Thus, we hypothesized that supraphysiological levels of Testo induce endothelial NOX4 expression to attenuate endothelial injury...

The possible protective effects of Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract on a high fat diet (HFD)-induced testicular injury in a rat model were investigated using histological and biochemical methods. Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: a standard diet control group; a HFD group; and an HFD+MC group. The HFD and HFD+MC groups were fed with a HFD for 16 weeks. MC extract (100 mg/kg) was given orally five days a week to the rats in the HFD+MC group during the last four weeks of the experiment. Leptin, triglyceride, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, estrogen, testosterone, LH and FSH were analyzed in blood serum...

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to elucidate how mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) application could efficiently attenuate pathological changes of letrozole-induced poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by modulating mitochondrial dynamic via PI3K-AKT pathway. METHODS: Thirty-two female rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: Sham, PCOS, PCOS + MSCs, and PCOS + MSCs + LY294002. The Sham group received 0.5% w/v carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); the PCOS group received letrozole (1 mg/kg, daily) in 0...

Furan is generated in a wide array of heat-treated foods through thermal degradation, leading to severe impairments in the male reproductive system. The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential of pomegranate peel extract (PGPE) in mitigating testicular dysfunctions induced by furan. Male rats were categorized into four groups: control/untreated, PGPE, furan, and PGPE+furan group. The study results revealed that furan-treated rats exhibited significantly elevated aminotransferase and phosphatase activity, and also generated increased oxidative stress, and reduced antioxidative stress protein activity...

Polystyrene microplastics, extensively considered endocrine disrupting chemicals, disturb the reproductive system of living organisms. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the reproductive endocrinopathy, is longstanding concern due to its eternal impacts as reproductive disorder and infertility. Despite several reports in reproductive and endocrine toxicity, there is inadequate literature regarding the daily intake of polystyrene-microplastics via drinking water in causing PCOS and leading to ovarian fibrosis in long-term...

With aging, men develop testosterone-deficiency syndrome (TDS). The development is closely associated with age-related mitochondrial dysfunction of Leydig cell and oxidative stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) is used to improve the symptoms of TDS. However, due to its various side effects, research on functional ingredients derived from natural products that do not have side effects is urgently needed. In this study, using the mitochondrial dysfunction TM3 (mouse Leydig) cells, in which testosterone biosynthesis is reduced by H2O2, we evaluated the effects of elderberry extract and monosaccharide-amino acid (fructose-leucine; FL) on mRNA and protein levels related to steroidogenesis-related enzymes steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 11A1(CYP11A1, cytochrome P450 17A1(CYP17A1), cytochrome P450 19A1(CYP19A1, aromatase), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(17β-HSD)...

Following an initial recovery, COVID-19 survivors struggle with a spectrum of persistent medical complications, including fatigue, breathlessness, weight loss, hair loss, and attention deficits. Additionally, there is growing evidence of adverse effects of COVID-19 on the male reproductive system. This investigation seeks to understand the long-term ramifications on male fertility by examining hormonal profiles, semen parameters, and sperm proteome of recovered COVID-19 patients compared to controls. The serum hormone profiles between the two groups showed minimal variations except for prolactin, cortisol, and testosterone levels...

One of the adverse effects of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin (CS) is damage to testicular tissue. This study aimed to examine the potential therapeutic effect of thymoquinone (TQ), a strong antioxidant, against testicular damage caused by CS. In the experiment, 28 rats were used, and the rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (n = 7), CS (n = 7), CS + TQ (n = 7), and TQ (n = 7). The experiment was called off after all treatments were finished on day 15...

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common food contaminant that can impair male reproductive function. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of DON exposure on progenitor Leydig cell (PLC) development in prepubertal male rats. Rats were orally administrated DON (0-4 mg/kg) from postnatal days 21-28. DON increased PLC proliferation but inhibited PLC maturation and function, including reducing testosterone levels and downregulating biomarkers like HSD11B1 and INSL3 at ≥2 mg/kg. DON also stimulated mitochondrial fission via upregulating DRP1 and FIS1 protein levels and increased oxidative stress by reducing antioxidant capacity (including NRF2, SOD1, SOD2, and CAT) in PLCs in vivo...

INTRODUCTION: Obesity, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are metabolic diseases that continue to be a global problem. Testosterone levels in men are affected by several factors, including obesity and DM. Although the relationship between diabetes and testosterone is not fully understood, oxidative stress is thought to play a major role. The aim of this study was to compare serum testosterone levels and oxidative stress markers [total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant capacity (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and ischaemic modified albumin (IMA)] among the control group and experimentally induced obese, T1DM, and T2DM rats...