The effect of aging on semen parameters in normozoospermic men: A cross-sectional study

Background: Semen parameters change with age and are reported differently worldwide. Objective: This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the semen quality pattern among aging men and the age thresholds for semen parameters. Materials and Methods: The records of men who had normal semen parameters from January 2015-June 2020 were retrospectively evaluated for andrological outpatient at Samsun Training and Research hospital and Gazi hospital in Samsun, Turkey. Adult men meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into 3 groups of I) 18-29 yr (n = 629), II) 30-39 yr (n = 775), and III) 40-49 yr (n = 190). Correlations between age and sperm parameters were then analyzed. Results: A total of 1594 men were enrolled in the study. Significant differences were observed in total sperm numbers, total motility rates, progressive motility rates, nonprogressive motility rates, normal morphology rates, mean semen volume, and sperm concentrations. The parameters of total sperm number, progressive motility rate, and normal morphology rate were significantly higher in group I than in the other 2 groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively) and in group II compared to group III (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, and p < 0.001), respectively. Mean semen volume and total motility rate were significantly higher in group I than in the other groups (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, no difference was observed between group II and group III (p = 0.61 and p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Age has a significant impact on semen parameters capable of affecting male fertility, particularly total sperm numbers, the progressive motility rate, and the normal morphology rate. Key words: Age, Fertility, Semen, Semen quality

The Effect of Curcumin on Penile Fibrotic Plaque in Rats with Experimental Peyronie's Disease

Objective: No effective medical approach for the treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD) has to date been described. This study was intended to evaluate the antifibrotic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory effects of curcumin on fibrotic tissue in the tunica albuginea (TA) in a rat model of PD. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats aged 10 months were randomized into three groups (n = 8 in each). No PD model was induced in the control group. The PD+saline (PD+Ps) group received fibrin injection, followed two weeks later by saline administration by oral gavage for 14 days. The PD+Curcumin (PD+Cur) group received fibrin injection into the TA followed two weeks later by curcumin administration by oral gavage for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, fibrotic activity was evaluated using stereological and histopathological methods. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), one of the most fibrogenic cytokines, was evaluated using immunohistochemistry with an anti-TGF-β1 rabbit monoclonal antibody. Results: Stereological analysis revealed significantly greater Peyronie-like plaque areas in the TA in the PD+Ps group than in the control and PD+Cur groups (p<0.0001). No significant difference was observed between the control and PD+Cur groups (p=0.35). The PD+Ps group exhibited strong TGF-β1 immunoreactivity with increased expression in the collagenous connective tissues and fibroblasts around the TA. Conclusion: Curcumin reduced fibrotic tissue in the TA and may represent a novel therapeutic option in the treatment of PD

The protective effect of curcumin on the diabetic Rat Kidney: A stereological, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical study

The prevalence of diabetes in the world is increasing rapidly. Kidney diseases are among the most common medical disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on the diabetic kidney. Thirty-five female Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups. No procedure was performed on the Cont group. The Sham group received corn oil via gavage for 14 days. The curcumin (Curc) group received 30-mg/kg curcumin for 14 days, while the diabetes mellitus (DM) group received 50-mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) in a single dose intraperitoneally. The DM + curcumin 1 (DC1) group received 30 mg/kg curcumin for 14 days, seven days after the application of STZ, while the DM + curcumin 2 (DC2) received 30 mg/kg curcumin for 14 days, 21 days after the application of STZ, and the DM + curcumin 3 (DC3) group received single-dose STZ at the same time as the application of 30 mg/kg curcumin for 14 days. Medulla, cortex, tubule, and glomerulus volume ratios were calculated using stereological techniques. Cortex volumes in the Sham and DM groups were significantly lower than in the Cont group (p < 0.05). The cortex volume in the DC3 group was also significantly lower than in the Curc group (p < 0.05). Medullary volume was significantly higher in the DC3 group compared to the DM group (p < 0.05). Curcumin was determined to exhibit a protective effect on the diabetic kidney since the glomerulus in the curcumin-exposed group exhibited a well-protected structure following experimentally induced diabetes based on light and electron microscopic analysis findings. These findings suggest that curcumin used following experimentally induced diabetes exhibits protective effects on the diabetic kidney