This study was designed to determine the effects of daily oral administration (250 mg/kg) of the hydroalcoholic extract of Fumaria parviflora (FP) for 14 days on the sperm parameters, oxidative stress parameters, serum testosterone levels, expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes, and apoptosis index of germ cells after testicular torsion-detorsion (ischaemia-reperfusion, IR) injury model in rats. Twenty-eight adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups of seven each: sham operation, torsion-detorsion (TD), TD plus the hydroalcoholic extract FP (TDFP) and only FP without TD application (FP). Testicular torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° in a counterclockwise direction; then, after 4 hr, detorsion was performed. The Johnson's score, mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD) and height (thickness) of seminiferous tubule epithelium (HST) were significantly increased in TDFP and FP groups as compared to TD group. The gene expression of Bcl-2, level of serum testosterone hormone and antioxidant parameters-GPx and SOD-were significantly higher in TDFP and FP groups than TD group. The index of apoptosis, the gene expression of Bax and the level of MDA were significantly higher in TD group than TDFP and FP groups. Therefore, F. parviflora could decrease oxidative stress induced by testicular torsion-detorsion.

have mentioned that infertility in 30% to 80% of men was related to the high level of ROS (4,6,7). Oxidative stress (OS) was found to damage the reproductive system and sperm, and therefore result in reducing sperm motility, lipid peroxidation, and oocyte-sperm fusion in addition to increasing the DNA damage (4). ROS, as stated by several studies, had considerable effects on spermatogenesis and sperm function. They reported that overproduction of ROS had harmful effects on motility, morphology, and concentration of sperm and that it caused sperm DNA damage and apoptosis (4,7-9). Testicular torsion, which occurs due to rotation of testicles, is a pathologic condition that leads to acute scrotal pain. According to the reports, although testicular torsion can be observed in any age group, its peak incidence usually occurs in young males aged 13-16 years. Moreover, it is estimated that 4.5 per 100 000 males within the age range of 1-25 years suffer from spermatic cord torsion (10). Furthermore, as pointed out by some studies, the degree and duration of Abstract Objectives: In this experimental study, a testicular torsion/detorsion model was used in male rats to investigate the effect of onion juice on male fertility factors and rate of pregnancy by intrauterine insemination (IUI). Materials and Methods: A total of 56 Wistar rats (28 males vs. 28 females) were included in this study. Male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including sham, testicular torsion/detorsion, testicular torsion/detorsion treated with onion juice (40 mg/kg, orally) 30 minutes before detorsion, and those rats that were only treated with onion juice. Treatment with onion juice was continued for 14 days after detorsion. At the end of the study, following anesthesia with ketamine/xylazine (5/1 mg/kg), levels of testosterone hormone as well as some oxidative stress markers in the blood serum of the male rats were analyzed. Furthermore, sperm parameters were assayed, and then fertility power of the male rats was investigated in the adult female rats using IUI method. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significantly negative change in TD group in terms of histological parameters while they were decreased in treated groups. On the one hand, although serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly increased in TD group, other oxidative markers' (i.e., glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) serum levels and also testosterone hormone significantly decreased, on the other as compared to the other groups. In addition, the rate of sperm parameters and pregnancy presence were lower in TD group than those of other groups. However, onion juice as a treatment factor could improve the sperm quality and fertility power. Conclusions: The obtained results revealed that using onion juice could enhance the quality of sperm and fertility power after testicular torsion/detorsion.

Introduction Ovarian torsion is one of the prevalent gynecologic emergencies, in which the adnexal components swing around their axis that leads to obstruction of arterial, venous, and/or lymphatic vessels (1). In this situation, gangrene and necrosis with the expansion of arterial insufficiency is followed by primary congestion and hemorrhagic infarction owing to venous and lymphatic obstruction. However, there is no data about the least number of turns to form the torsion and also there is no data for the duration of torsion that is necessary for the setting in of necrosis (2). Diagnosis of torsion is based on clinical indication and found by sonographic findings. Meanwhile a definite diagnosis is made only during surgery (1) Oophorectomy of the necrotic and/ or doubtful ovaries after torsion or incarceration is the preferred surgical treatment in contemporaneous practice. However, before maturity, the importance of losing the gonads is higher than its loss in later periods. Also, nonsynchronous contralateral torsion has an occurrence ranging between 2%-5%, therefore, is considered as a clinical catastrophe. Twenty-five percent of children with torsion have abnormal ovaries. Moreover, protection of the gonads is the main attention in children. Therefore, a more conservative approach has been recommended in the last research (2). In the past, remedial action to overcome ovarian torsion was surgical removal of the ovaries. Nowadays, due to the importance of the ovaries in fertility and secretion of sexual hormones, ovaries are retained (3). Ovarian torsion/detorsion or ischemia/reperfusion of ovary is a pathophysiologic event in which histological damage is associated with perfusion reduction followed by lack of oxygen (ischemia) in ovarian tissue. The inflammatory response induced by torsion/detorsion (reperfusion) can lead to vascular endothelial cells damage and microcirculation disorders that are largely responsible for the injury to the ovarian tissue. The damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion produces excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl free radical species, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), and superoxide radical (4-6). Therefore, oxidation has wrecking effects on ovarian tissue, thus, antioxidant substances not only have great roles in the recovery process but also reverse the adverse effects. Natural products such as plant extracts are a good alternative for drugs used in oxidative damage (7).

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Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered as one of the current disorders of the endocrine system in women of reproductive age (1-3). The epidemiological studies indicated that the incidence of PCOS varies in the world with a range of 2.2% to 26% (2,4). Such incidence is 43% to 46% in the United States, 37.4% in Germany, and 16% in Italy (5). The typical complications of PCOS include polycystic ovaries, elevated luteinizing hormone, hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation along with oligoamenorrhea, obesity, and infertility (6). PCOS could be taken into account as a metabolism-centered syndrome such as insulin resistance syndrome or some other risk factors, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and/or dyslipidemia (7). Although the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of PCOS is still elusive, this syndrome is concomitant with hormonal perturbation, such as a diminished concentration of progesterone and heightened levels of testosterone, estrogen and luteinizing hormone (8-10). In patients afflicted with both hyperandrogenism and PCOS, there is a strong association between the hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism as the concentration of insulin shows a strong correlation with adrenal steroid excretion (11). On the other hand, in patients with PCOS, hyperinsulinemia is concurrent with heightened levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglyceride, total cholesterol (12) and reduced level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (13). Additionally, besides insulin resistance, the metabolism of lipid in females suffered from PCOS may be altered by ovarian-or adrenalexcretion of sex steroid hormones. Effects of sex steroids Abstract Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been considered as one of the most common endocrine diseases among the females in their regenerative age with a prevalence range of 5 to 21%. However, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Galega officinalis on metabolic as well as hormonal parameters in a rodent model of PCOS. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two Wistar female rats were used (n=8/group) in the study consisting of healthy control and experimental groups. The experimental groups were divided into 3 subgroups, including rats with PCOS which received no treatment (G1), PCOS group in which G. officinalis extract was administered daily at a dose of 200 mg/kg/orally (G2) for 2 weeks, and PCOS group in which G. officinalis extract was administered daily at a dose of 400 mg/kg/orally (G3) for 2 weeks. In all experimental groups, a single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate led to inducing PCOS. After the end of treatment period, rats in all of the studied groups were anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine (5/1 mg/kg), then the blood samples obtained and their serum samples were applied for testing the fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, aromatase, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and estrogen. The ovaries of rats were removed and fi...