Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with low-quality oocytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of metformin (MET), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and their combination on follicular fluid parameters, oocytes and embryo quality in PCOS patients. A prospective randomised placebo-controlled pilot study on 60 Iranian women with PCOS (aged 25-35 years) undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was designed. Women were divided into four groups (n=15 in each): (1) an MET, administered 1500mg day(-1) MET; (2) an NAC group, administered 1800mg day(-1) NAC; (3) an NAC + MET group; and (4) a placebo group. Drugs were administered from the 3rd day of previous cycle until the day of oocyte aspiration (6 weeks treatment in total). Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA, with significance set at P<0.05. The number of immature and abnormal oocytes decreased significantly in the NAC compared with placebo group, with a concomitant increase in the number of good-quality embryos in the NAC group (P<0.05). Malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly in the NAC and NAC + MET groups compared with the placebo-treated group (P<0.02). In addition, there were significant decreases in leptin levels in the NAC, MET and NAC + MET groups compared with the placebo group (P<0.001). Insulin and LH levels were significantly lower in the MET and NAC groups compared with the placebo-treated group (P<0.02). We concluded that NAC improves oocyte and embryo quality and could be administered as an alternative to MET.

Aluminum is recognized as a public health concern because of its potential toxic effects on human health. Therefore, the present experiment was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of curcumin (CUR) in reducing the hepatotoxicity induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) in animals. In this experimental study, forty male rats were allocated to five groups (N = 8), viz. no treatment (control), solvent (DMSO or distilled water), CUR (10 mg/kg B.W.), AlCl3 (10 mg/kg B.W.), and CUR+AlCl3 (each with 10 mg/kg B.W.). Treatments were performed by intra-peritoneal injections for 28 days. On the final day, animals were sacrificed, and liver function markers in blood plasma, hepatic antioxidants, and lipid peroxidation index in liver homogenate were estimated. AlCl3 treatment resulted in a significant increase in plasma AST, ALT, ALP and LDH activities with decreased total protein compared to control. AlCl3 significantly reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels but increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver compared to control. AlCl3 also caused various histopathological changes in the livers of rats. Curcumin could normalize nearly all these parameters. CUR improved levels of changes in different parameters when was combined with AlCl3. It is concluded that CUR has beneficial effects being able to antagonize AlCl3 toxicity.

Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) can pass from the cell membrane and testicular blood barrier due to their small size, and by increasing oxidative stress they cause disorder in the male reproductive system. Kombucha is a traditional fermented drink with detoxification and potent antioxidant properties. We aimed to examine the protective effect of Kombucha against the damages due to SNPs on the testis tissue. In this experimental study, NMRI mice were randomly separated into four groups (n = 6), namely control (distilled water), SNPs (500 mg/kg), Kombucha extract (9 ml/kg) and SNPs + Kombucha, and were treated with gavage for 35 days. A significant decrease in testosterone level and total antioxidant capacity, and a significant increase in malondialdehyde concentration was observed in the SNPs group in comparison with the control group. Histological studies on the testis of mice treated with SNPs showed vacuolation, decrease in generational epithelium thickness, seminiferous tubules diameter, testis volume and the number of spermatozoa in lumen of the seminiferous tubule and increase in the volume of interstitial space while the mentioned parameters were improved in the SNPs + Kombucha group compared to the SNPs group. Kombucha reduces the adverse effects of SNPs on testis tissue and improves the function of the male reproductive system.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may lead to the infertility of men. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on sperm parameters and reproductive hormones in fertile men. Methods: A total of 100 males were selected and divided into two groups: (1) patients in convalescence (patients suffering from COVID-19 infection in pharyngeal swab in accordance with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] or antibodies); (2) negative control group (without antibodies). Semen and blood samples were gathered from all subjects. In the native semen, immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies in the blood were confirmed, and COVID-19 was detected via RT-PCR. To this end, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, semen analysis, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and sperm DNA integrity were assessed. Results: Results demonstrated that sperm concentration, motility, sperm viability, and TAC significantly reduced in fertile males with virus infection. In comparison with the control group, sperm DNA integrity was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Data indicated that the semen volume was not significantly correlated with COVID-19, and there was a significantly negative correlation between sperm concentration, sperm total motility, sperm vitality, sperm normal forms, and TAC with COVID-19. Sperm DNA fragmentation index had a significant and positive correlation with COVID-19 (P < 0.05). In addition, reproductive hormones significantly reduced in fertile males with COVID-19 infection (P < 0.05). Conclusions: COVID-19 infection has a negative influence on sperm parameters and reproductive hormones in fertile males.

The study has aimed to investigate the effect of Quercetin, as a potent antioxidant, on preventing the negative effects of freezing process on sperm quality of patients with Asthenospermia. Semen sample from 25 patients was randomly divided into three groups; fresh, control and Quercetin (50 μM). Seven days after freezing, samples were thawed at ambient temperature. Total motility, progressive sperm motility, normal morphology, viability and DNA integrity were evaluated according to WHO criteria, Papanicolaou, eosin‐ nigrosine and acridine orange staining respectively. In addition, the health of sperm membrane and mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed by HOS test and rhodamine staining. MDA and antioxidant enzyme activity were also evaluated using ELISA method. In contrast to the fresh group, the mean level of MDA and DNA damage had significant increase in the control group and decreased significantly sperm quality (p ≤ 0.001). The mean percentage of total motility and progressive motility, normal morphology, viability and antioxidant enzyme activity had significant increase in the Quercetin group than the control group. In the Quercetin group, the MDA level and DNA damage also had significant reduction in comparison with the control group (p ≤ 0.001). Therefore, the Quercetin supplementation improves the quality of cryopreserved human semen.