Methamphetamine (METH) is known to damage neurons and induce psychosis. It can also induce apoptosis in seminiferous tubules and affect sperm quality. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of a rat model of METH addiction on sperm quality and expression of progesterone receptors (PR) and estrogen receptors (ER) in the testis. Sperm quality parameters including sperm motility, sperm morphology and sperm concentration were examined. Protein and gene expressions PR, ERα and ERβ were studied using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The percentages of normal sperm motility and normal sperm morphology were significantly decreased in animals receiving METH, especially in escalating dose (ED METH) and escalating dose-binge (ED-binge METH) groups when compared with control. In addition, sperm concentrations in ED METH and ED-binge METH groups were numerically decreased. PR, ERα and ERβ immunoreactive cells were significantly decreased in spermatogonia, spermatogenic cells and especially in Sertoli cells in all METH-treated groups. Furthermore, messenger RNA expression of PR, ERα and ERβ were also significantly decreased in all METH-treated animals. These results indicate that METH can induce abnormal sperm quality. These changes of sperm quality may relate to the reduction of PR, ERα and ERβ expressions in male germ cells and Sertoli cells which are essential for spermatogenesis and development of sperm.
It is well known that ethanol consumption is the cause of liver disease (Kawaratani et al., 2013), gastric and colon cancers (Na & Lee, 2017), and renal dysfunctions (Kumar & Vasudevan, 2008). In addition, ethanol has a detrimental effect on sexual behaviour and fertility (Ávila et al., 2016; Gude, 2012). Previous studies showed that ethanol consumption could affect male reproductive system in adult male rats (Nishi et al., 2018; Yari, Karamian, Asadbegy, Hoseini, & Moazzami Farida, 2018). Previous study showed damaging of seminiferous tubules and reduced testosterone levels in sexually mature rats treated with ethanol for 14 consecutive days (Yari et al., 2018). These results implied early direct effect of ethanol on spermatogenesis and androgen production, but not real effect since the duration of total spermatogenesis in the rat is 50 days and epididymal transit takes approximately 7 days, respectively (Adler, 1996; Creasy, 1997). In both human and animal models, ethanol administration decreased normal sperm morphology, sperm concentration,
Although the fruit extract of Dolichandrone genus was shown to inhibit spermatogenesis, the reproductive toxicity of Dolichandrone serrulata flowers (DSFs) is not documented. Recent study aimed to evaluate the sub‐chronic toxicity of DSF on male reproductive system. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic contents of DSF extract were determined using Folin–Ciocalteu's, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. The terpenoid components were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. Adult male rats were treated orally with DSF (100, 300 or 600 mg/kg) for 48 days. Histopathology of testis and epididymis was observed. Sperm concentration, viability, acrosome status and morphology were also examined. Expressions of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), tyrosine‐phosphorylated (TyrPho) proteins, androgen receptor (AR) and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in testis were investigated. Results showed that DSF contained phenolic compounds and terpenoids (phytoandrogens; rengyolone and cleroindicin B). No reproductive histopathology was observed in DSF‐treated rats. Although DSF decreased the serum testosterone level, the sperm qualities were not affected. Particularly, sperm concentration of DSF‐treated animals was significantly increased. DSF changed the testicular TyrPho proteins but the expression of AR, StAR or Hsp70 was not altered. In conclusion, DSF possesses antioxidant capacity with no toxicity on male reproductive system.
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