AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the ability of CB to ameliorate H2O2-induced oxidative stress in testes and sperm in mice and prevent H2O2-induced oxidative in human sperm.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oxidative stress was induced in male mice by pre-exposure to 2% H2O2 orally for seven consecutive days, followed by 100 and 200 mg/kg b. w. administration. CB for another seven days. At the end of treatment, mice were sacrificed and testes and epididymal sperm were harvested. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were measured and sperm parameters were obtained. Meanwhile, oxidative stress levels in mice testes and sperm, steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis markers in mice testes were assessed by molecular biological techniques. In another experiment, sperm from thirty-two healthy fertile men were incubated with 200 μM H2O2 and CB (100 and 200 μg/ml) simultaneously and were then evaluated for sperm parameter changes.
RESULTS: In mice, CB administration ameliorates persistent increases in oxidative stress and decreases in anti-oxidative enzyme levels in testes and sperm following H2O2 pre-exposure. Additionally, CB also helps to ameliorate deterioration in sperm parameters and testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis and restores the serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels near normal in mice. In humans, CB helps to prevent deterioration in sperm parameters following H2O2 exposure.
CONCLUSION: CB is potentially useful to preserve the male reproductive capability and subsequently male fertility in high oxidative stress conditions.
METHODS: Fertile women and women with unexplained infertility but having regular 28-day menstrual cycles were chosen in this study, Day-22 serum progesterone levels were determined. In the meantime, serum FSH and LH levels were determined on day 2 while, cervical flushing was performed at day 14 to analyse changes in the cervical fluid pH, osmolarity, Na+ and Cl- levels. Meanwhile, cells retrieved from cervical fluid were subjected to mRNA expression and protein distribution analysis for CFTR, AQP and ENaC by qPCR and immunofluorescence, respectively.
RESULTS: No significant changes in serum progesterone, FSH and LH levels were observed between the two groups. However, cervical fluid pH, osmolarity, Na+ and Cl- levels were significantly lower in primary unexplained infertile group when compared to fertile group. Expression of CFTR and AQP (AQP 1, AQP 2, AQP 5 and AQP 7) in endocervical cells was lower and expression of β-ENaC was higher in primary unexplained infertile women (p
METHODS: A total of 32 female Sprague Dawley rats were taken and randomly divided into four groups (n = 8). Throughout the experimental period of 6 weeks, negative control-NC (vehicle deionized water), positive control-CD (Cd at 5 mg/kg), Tualang honey followed by Cd exposure-TH (Tualang honey at 200 mg/kg and Cd at 5 mg/kg) and Tualang honey control-THC (Tualang honey at 200 mg/kg) groups, were administered orally on a daily basis.
RESULTS: Rats exposed to Cd were significantly higher in ovarian weight, number of antral and atretic follicles as compared to the NC group. The disruptive effects of Cd on ovarian follicles were associated with a disruption in gonadotropin hormones and decreases in follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Moreover, a significant formation of oxidative stress in ovarian Cd-exposed rats has been proven by increasing the level of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde) and decreasing the levels of enzymatic antioxidant (catalase). Interestingly, a daily supplementation of high antioxidant agents such as Tualang honey in these animals, caused significant improvements in the histological changes. Additionally, less atretic follicles were observed, restoring the normal level of LH and FSH (P