The S. lappa extract has potentially useful anti-arthritic activity as well as improves the immune and antioxidant responses of adjuvant-induced monoarthritis in rats.
This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of dietary Nigella sativa on the cell-mediated immune response. Eighteen male Wistar rats were divided equally into a control group and treated groups that received black seeds at rates of 30 and 50 g/kg in the diet (Sa30 and Sa50 groups, respectively, for 30 days. The weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and cell-mediated immune response were monitored after the injection of 0.1 mL of 10% phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The intumesce index, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), interleukin-12 (IL-12), gamma interferon (γ-IF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were determined. Histopathological examination and an immunohistochemistry analysis of splenic caspase-3 and CD8 were performed. Nigella sativa significantly improved the weight gain and FCR. Intumesce index of Sa50 group was significantly increased. Nigella sativa significantly increased TAC, CAT, IL-12, γ-IF and TNF-α. A histological examination of PHA-stimulated foot pads showed increased leukocyte infiltration and edema in a dose-dependent pattern. Splenic caspase-3 and CD8 showed significant decreases and increases, respectively, in the Sa30 and Sa50 groups. The results indicate that Nigella sativa seeds exhibit immunostimulatory function through their antioxidant potential, induction of cytokine production, promotion of CD8 expression and reduction of splenic apoptosis.
Background and Purpose
Varicocele is a leading cause of male infertility. Melatonin is a highly pleiotropic neurohormone. We aimed to characterize the melatonin epigenetic potential in varicocele and the involved molecular mechanisms.
Experimental Approach
Fifty‐two male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (13 rats each): control (I), melatonin (II), varicocele (III) and melatonin treated varicocele (IV) groups. Left varicocele was induced by partial left renal vein ligation. Reproductive hormones, epididymal sperm functional parameters, testicular 3/17 β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine and histopathological/Johnsen's score were evaluated. Flow cytometry and Comet were carried out to explore extent of sperm and testicular DNA damage. Testicular expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), forkhead transcription factors‐class O (type1) (FOXO1), tumour suppressor gene, P53, cation channels of sperm (CatSper) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein was evaluated by western blot technique. Testicular expression of Bcl‐2 and its associated X protein and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. Testicular miR‐34a expression was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction.
Key Results
The varicocele induced testicular histological injury, enhanced oxidative stress, P53‐mediated apoptosis, DNA damage and increased testicular miR‐34a expression paralleled with down‐regulated SIRT1/FOXO axis. Melatonin treatment of varicocele rats displayed antioxidant/anti‐apoptotic efficacy and improved reproductive hormones axis, CatSper expression and fertility parameters. MiR‐34a/SIRT1/FOXO1 epigenetic axis integrates testicular melatonin mediated intracellular transduction cascades in varicocele.
Conclusion and Implications
Melatonin can be used as an adjuvant therapy to improve varicocele and its complication.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.