Androgen receptor and ultrastructural features of Nigella sativa oil and nicotine-treated male rat reproductive glands

Nicotine is claimed to increase free radicals, DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in male reproductive organs. Nigella sativa has been identified to ameliorate these adverse effects due to nicotine intake. This study was conducted to evaluate potential protective effects of N. sativa oil on the adverse effects of nicotine on androgen receptors (AR) and ultrastructural features of rat seminal vesicles and prostate glands. Twenty four Sprague Dawley male rats, 7-9 weeks of age and 200-250 g body weight (BW) were randomly divided into; Group 1 Saline (S), forced fed with 0.1 mL/100 g BW of 0.9% normal saline; Group 2 Nicotine (N), intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mg/100 g BW of nicotine; Group 3 N. sativa (NS), forced fed with 6.0 μL/100 g BW of N. sativa and Group 4 Nicotine-N. sativa (NNS), co-administered with 0.5 mg/100 g BW of nicotine and 6.0 μL/100 g BW of N. sativa. The seminal vesicles and prostate glands were extracted after 100 days of treatment. The seminal vesicle and prostate gland were processed for ultrastructural study and androgen receptor detection. The epithelial cells in prostate gland and seminal vesicle of the N group showed weaker brown staining intensity as compared to that of in the NS and NNS groups. This was consistent with the presence of some ultracellular changes observed in the prostate gland and seminal vesicle tissues of the N group. Findings from this study suggested that administration of N. sativa results in ameliorating effects on both the prostate gland and seminal vesicle structures and functions of the nicotine-treated rats

Effects of Gelam Honey on sperm quality and testis of rat

The present study aimed to elucidate the possible protective effects of Gelam honey on sperm quality and testis histology against infertility related problems. Control and treated groups of 4 - 5 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were force-fed daily with 1.0 mL/100 g body weight of normal saline (0.9%) and Gelam honey, respectively. After 60 days of treatments, reproductive organs of the anesthetized rats were removed to assess sperm parameters and histology of testis. Sperm count of treated group was significantly higher (18.85±3.72×105/mL) than control group (17.05±3.12×105/mL) (p<0.05). Based on sperm morphology, treated group showed significantly higher percentage of normal sperm (96.83±0.03%) as compared to control group (94.87±0.01%) (p<0.01). Head and tail abnormalities sperm were also significantly reduced in the treated rats (p<0.05). The number of spermatogenic cells in testis of treated group were abundant as compared to control group. Seminiferous tubules of treated group were densely packed with spermatogenic cells with small lumen filled up with sperm tail. This study suggested that Gelam honey has the potential to increase the fertility of male rats by increasing sperm count and number of sperm with normal morpholog

Effects of freezing on sperm velocity in four different age groups of jermasia buck

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of freezing on sperm velocity in four different age groups (young: <1 year; mature: e <= 1.0-2.5 years; old: e <= 2.5-4.5 years and very old: e <= 4.5 years) of Jermasia buck. Tris Citric Acid Egg Yolk Extender (TCAYE) was added to semen samples and cryopreserved using a programmable freezer prior to plunging into liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C). The fresh extended and frozen-thawed semen were subjected to computer automated semen analyzer (CASA) for sperm velocity evaluation. Fresh extended sperm in mature age group showed significantly highest values for average path velocity (VAP) 76.73 +/- 1.24 mu m/s, straight line velocity (VSL) 55.30 +/- 1.05 mu m/s, curvilinear velocity (VCL) 144.31 +/- 2.38 mu m/s, amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) 6.59 +/- 0.10 mu m and beat cross frequency (BCF) 39.59 +/- 0.36Hz as compared to young, old and very old age groups of buck (P<0.05). Significantly (P<0.05) higher values for VAP, VSL, VCL and ALH were observed in fresh as compared to frozen-thawed sperm in all age groups of buck. Thus, age of bucks should be considered as one of the factors that contribute to better sperm velocity which might affect fertilizability of the sperm. Optimizing the freezing technique is also essential in order to obtain satisfactory results after artificial insemination

Ultrastructural studies of fresh, frozen-thawed and acrosome-reacted goat sperm

Data on the ultrastructure of sperm subjected to freezing and acrosome reaction treatment are lacking. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of sperm freezing and acrosome reaction on the ultrastructure of the goat sperm. The sperm were subjected to slow freezing method using programmable freezer at 4°C for 3.5 hours and acrosome reaction treatment prior to Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) procedures. The results showed that the plasma and acrosomal membranes of the frozen-thawed sperm were expanded and the mitochondria became irregular in shape. On the otherhand, acrosome-reacted sperm showed ruptured plasma and acrosomal membrane and dispersion of the acrosome matrix. Frozen-thawed sperm also showed the dispersion of the acrosomal matrix within the plasma membrane. The nine outer-dense fibres of frozen-thawed and acrosome-reacted sperms were irregular in shape. No noticeable difference in the axoneme complex arrangement was observed in both samples. It can be concluded from our findings that the noticeable difference of the membranes and the mitochondria may cause the decrease in the sperm motility and subsequently a decrease in the rate of in vitro fertilization

Effects of Gelam honey on sperm quality and testis of rat

The present study aimed to elucidate the possible protective effects of Gelam honey on sperm quality and testis histology against infertility related problems. Control and treated groups of 4 - 5 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were force-fed daily with 1.0 mL/100 g body weight of normal saline (0.9%) and Gelam honey, respectively. After 60 days of treatments, reproductive organs of the anesthetized rats were removed to assess sperm parameters and histology of testis. Sperm count of treated group was significantly higher (18.85 +/- 3.72x10(5)/mL) than control group (17.05 +/- 3.12x10(5)/mL) (p<0.05). Based on sperm morphology, treated group showed significantly higher percentage of normal sperm (96.83 +/- 0.03%) as compared to control group (94.87 +/- 0.01%) (p<0.01). Head and tail abnormalities sperm were also significantly reduced in the treated rats (p<0.05). The number of spermatogenic cells in testis of treated group were abundant as compared to control group. Seminiferous tubules of treated group were densely packed with spermatogenic cells with small lumen filled up with sperm tail. This study suggested that Gelam honey has the potential to increase the fertility of male rats by increasing sperm count and number of sperm with normal morphology

Progesterone and estradiol profiles of co-administration of exogenous progesterone and estradiol benzoate during estrus synchronization in cows

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of estrous synchronization method in cow and to document the profile of progesterone and estradiol levels in three breed (Charolais, Brahman and local indigenous, Kedah-Kelantan) of cows. Twenty eight cycling cows received CIDR (controlled intravaginal drug release) insertion containing 1.38 g of progesterone with 10 mg estradiol benzoate (Day 0). The cows were given 2 mg i.m injection of estradiol benzoate (EB) 24 hours after CIDR removal (Day 8). A single insemination was carried out to each of the synchronized cow using rectovaginal method, 24 hours after EB injection (Day 9). Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out on day 60 post-insemination using rectal palpation. Blood samples were collected on day 0, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 14 after CIDR insertion. Collected blood samples were centrifuged at 2,000 r.p.m for 10 minutes and blood plasma was stored at -20 degrees C until assayed. Concentrations of progesterone and estradiol in blood plasma were assayed using RIA kits. Progesterone reached the highest level on day 3, 9.03 ng/ml (Brahman) and 27.16 ng/ml (Kedah-Kelantan). However, after CIDR removal on day 7, progesterone level continued to decrease and reached the lowest levels, 2.12 ng/ml (Charolais), 0.53 ng/ml (Brahman), and 0.47 ng/ml (Kedah-Kelantan). Insertion of CIDR (Day 0) caused a slight drop in estradiol levels in Charolais (0.00 pg/ml), Brahman (5.01 pg/ml) and Kedah-Kelantan (4.60 pg/ml) cows. Estradiol level reached the highest level, 77.26 pg/ml (Charolais), 34.20 pg/ml (Brahman) and 27.43 pg/ml (Kedah-Kelantan) after estradiol benzoate injection on day 8. It was concluded that synchronization method in the present study managed to give good percentage of pregnancy and similar pattern of progesterone and estradiol profiles regardless breed of the cows