Prolonged and strenuous exercise has been proposed as a possible source of male-factor infertility. Forced intensive swimming has also been identified as one source of a dysfunctional male reproduction system. The present study evaluated the possible protective role of α-lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on intensive swimming-induced germ-cell depletion in adult male rats. Forced exhaustive swimming of 1 hr/day, 6 days/week for 8 consecutive weeks resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in epididymal sperm; testicular androgenic enzyme activities; and plasma and intra-testicular testosterone; and produced different types of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium cycle. Conversely, plasma corticosterone levels and sperm-head abnormalities increased. Western-blot analysis showed a considerable decrease in testicular StAR protein expression whereas reverse-transcriptase PCR analysis showed no significant change in cytochrome P450scc (Cyp11a1) gene expression. Significant (P < 0.05) elevation in testicular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content versus reduction in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and caspase-3 activities along with a depletion in the glutathione pool, mitochondrial membrane potential (▵ψm ), and intracellular ATP generation. A considerable level of DNA damage in testicular spermatogenic cells were also noted following forced extensive swimming. Alpha-lipoic acid and NAC supplementation prevented the swimming-induced testicular spermatogenic and steroidogenic disorders by lowering ROS generation. We therefore conclude that intensive forced swimming causes germ-cell depletion through the generation of ROS and depletion of steroidogenesis in the testis, which can be protected by the co-administration of α-lipoic acid and NAC.
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<p>Natural compounds are a repertoire of organoleptic molecules. This indicates that although they are not a significant source of nutrients, still they exhibit a wide range of medicinal properties through their plethora of anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory activities. Coumarins, found in a variety of plants from different biodiversity regions, also have been reported to be present in many plants of the Indo-Gangetic plain. Here, we would attempt to enumerate the natural coumarin compounds, their pharmaco-therapeutic potential and their occurrence as well as abundance in the flora of the aforesaid biodiversity region. Coumarins, derived their name from the French word “coumarou” for Tonka bean. First isolated in 1820, coumarin still finds its relevance in the study of implementation of natural compounds in treating neuro-degenerative and cancer-like fatal diseases. Naturally occurring benzopyrones, chemically classified as lactones and coumarin compounds need to be reviewed to develop new era drugs from natural resources. This promises an effective treatment regimen with minimal side effects and also paves the path for a sustainable future with efforts to manage our health problems from the plant products in our immediate environment.</p>
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