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Chronic stress (CS) is shown to decrease the semen quality with changed expression of tyrosine phosphorylated (TyrPho) proteins in testicular and seminal tissues. However, the alterations of such proteins and fluid contents in the epididymis, producing sperm maturation factors, have never been reported. Sixteen adult rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 8). The control animals were not subjected to stressors whereas CS rats were immobilised within restraint cage (4 hr/day) before cold forced‐water swimming (15 min/day) for 60 days. Corticosterone, testosterone, blood glucose level (BGL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and biochemical components in epididymal fluid were assayed. Expressions of heat shock protein 70 (HSP‐70), androgen receptor (AR) and TyrPho protein were investigated in epididymal tissue and fluid. Significantly, CS increased the corticosterone and BGL but decreased testosterone and epididymal substance levels. MDA level in tail epididymal fluid and HSP‐70 expression in both regions of epididymal tissues and fluids, except in head epididymal fluid of CS were increased. Epididymal tissues showed the decrease of AR expression. Presence and changes of many TyrPho proteins were observed in CS. In conclusion, CS could affect functional proteins particularly TyrPho in epididymis, resulted in low semen quality.

Valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic drug, has been demonstrated to damage histology and to change tyrosine phosphorylation patterns with increased oxidative stress in perirenal tissues. This study aimed to investigate the effect of VPA on microstructure, tyrosine phosphorylation, and lipid peroxidation of rat kidney. Adult male rats were divided into control and VPA-treated groups intraperitoneally injected with normal saline and VPA 500 mg/kgBW for 10 consecutive days, respectively (n = 7 each). The blood serum was examined for biochemical levels. The kidney tissues were routinely processed for histological observation. Total proteins from kidney were extracted to assay the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and phosphorylation expression. The results showed that VPA significantly decreased blood glucose levels while tend to increase urea nitrogen and creatinine. MDA levels in VPA group were significantly higher that of control. Renal cortex of VPA-treated animals revealed vasodilatations. Although the ratio of a renal phosphorylated 72 kDa protein/ beta actin expression seemed to be not different in both groups, VPA significantly decreased the intensity of beta actin. In conclusion, VPA dilates renal microvasculature with increasing of MDA but suppresses the actin expression.

Context Thai Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. pruriens (Fabaceae) (TMP) is known to enrich reproduction but preventive effects on stress related adverse reproductive parameters are not documented. Objective This study investigates the protective property of TMP seed extract on reproductive damage under chronic stress (CS). Materials and methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. The control and CS groups received distilled water, whereas the pre-treated rats received the aqueous TMP seed extract at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg BW for 20 days before co-treatments with CS induction (immobilization and forced swimming) for 81 days. Serum was used to determine the cortisol and testosterone levels. Histology of testis and epididymis was observed with localization of androgen receptor (AR). Sperm parameters and the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR), cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily a member 1 (CYP11A1), AR, HSP70, caspases (3 and 9) and tyrosine phosphorylation (TyrPho) proteins were investigated. Results TMP extract improved cortisol level (0.84 ± 0.02 µg/dL) and protected against the damage of reproductive tissues and sperm parameters (count [49.78 ± 3.74 million sperm/mL], viability [90.01 ± 1.17%] and precocious acrosome reaction [1.38 ± 0.48%]). Expression of testicular StAR, CYP11A1, AR and HSP70 proteins was improved. Caspase expression was decreased in treated rats. TMP increased AR expression in CS sperm. Moreover, TyrPho protein expression was corrected after TMP administration. Conclusions TMP seed protected against adverse reproductive parameters in CS via improvements of functionally testicular markers and reductions of apoptotic proteins. It is possible to develop the TMP beans as an alternative medicine in treating of male subfertility caused by CS.

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Background: Changes in tyrosine-phosphorylated (TyrPho) protein expressions have demonstrated stress in males. In females, chronic stress (CS) is a major cause of infertility, especially anovulation. However, the tyrosine phosphorylation in the female reproductive system under stress conditions has never been reported. Objective: To investigate the alteration of TyrPho protein expression in ovary, oviduct, and uterus of CS rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 16 female Sprague-Dawley rats (5 wk: 220-250 gr) were divided into control and CS groups (n = 8/group). Every day, the CS animals were immobilized within a restraint cage and individually forced to swim in cold water for 60 consecutive days. Following the stress induction, the ovary, oviduct, and uterus of all rats were observed for their morphologies. The total protein profiles of all tissues were revealed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) before detecting TyrPho proteins using western blot. Intensity analysis was used to compare the expression of proteins between groups. Results: The results showed that the morphology and weights of ovary and oviduct in the CS group were not different from control. In contrast, the CS significantly increased the uterine weight as compared to control. Moreover, the expressions of TyrPho proteins in the ovary (72, 43, and 28 kDas), oviduct (170, 55, and 43 kDas), and uterus (55, 54, and 43 kDas) were increased in CS group as compared to those of control. Conclusion: The increased expressions of TyrPho proteins in ovary, oviduct, and uterus could be potential markers used to explain some mechanisms of female infertility caused by chronic stress. Key words: Ovary, Oviduct, Uterus, Phosphorylation.