Taurine improves follicular survival and function of mice ovarian grafts through increasing CD31 and GDF9 expression and reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis

Fluoxetine Mitigates Human Sperm Quality by Disrupting the Antioxidant Defense System and Altering the Expression of Apoptosis-Related Genes: An In Vitro Study

Fluoxetine is used in the management of depression, anxiety and other mood disorders by increasing serotonin levels in the brain and can cause sexual side effects by changing the homeostasis of sex hormones and increasing oxidative stress. Since many men who take fluoxetine are of reproductive age and sperm are exposed to fluoxetine for a considerable time, this study aimed to examine the in vitro effects of fluoxetine on human sperm biochemical markers and sperm parameters. Semen samples from 30 fertile men were divided into three groups: a positive control group, a negative control group and a fluoxetine-treated group. We investigated sperm parameters, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), acrosome reaction, DNA fragmentation, chromatin integrity, and the expression of CASPASE8, CASPASE9, BAX, and BCL2 genes and proteins. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis. The results showed that the average percentage of motility, viability, MMP, acrosome and chromatin integrity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level, and BCL2 gene and protein expression in the fluoxetine group were significantly reduced compared to the positive and negative control groups. While the average percentage of non-progressive motility, sperm DNA fragmentation, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, reactive oxygen species (ROS), gene and proteins expression of CASPASE8, CASPASE9 and BAX increased significantly. This study suggests that fluoxetine may impair sperm quality by increasing the expression of apoptotic genes, proteins, and oxidative stress. Therefore, careful management of fluoxetine in treating depression is crucial, especially in men of reproductive age, due to its potential sexual side effects. HIGHLIGHTS: • Fluoxetine reduces the quality of human sperm by inducing oxidative stress. • Fluoxetine lowers the total antioxidant capacity in human sperm by increasing ROS. • Fluoxetine increases the expression of apoptosis genes in human sperm.

The effect of vitamin C on the recovery of activity and survival of autografted ovaries through inhibition of oxidation and inflammation

Ovarian tissue autografting is a valuable clinical option to help restore fertility in women with cancer. However, many follicles are lost due to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, which depletes follicles after grafting. We aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin C, an antioxidant with anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties, on improving the structure and function of autografted ovaries in mice. Thirty-six female NMRI mice (4-5 weeks old) were divided into three groups of 12: control (no grafting), autograft + vitamin C (50 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally), and autograft + saline (100 µl/day/animal, intraperitoneally). After the ovarian autografting and before the start of the experiment, each group was further divided into 7-day and 28-day subgroups. Seven days after ovary autografting, serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and inflammatory factors were measured. On day 28, ovarian histology, DNA fragmentation, and estradiol and progesterone levels were assessed. Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test, with significance set at p<0.05. In the autograft + vitamin C group, there were significant increases in the mean total volume of the ovary, cortex (p<0.05), medulla, number of follicles, and levels of IL-10, progesterone, estradiol, and TAC (p<0.001), compared to the autograft group. Conversely, the rate of apoptosis and serum levels of MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α were notably reduced in the autograft + vitamin C group (p<0.001). These results suggest that vitamin C can significantly enhance the recovery of autografted ovaries through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects.

Atorvastatin improves ovarian function and follicular reserve in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency

RESEARCH QUESTION

Can atorvastatin, with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, improve ovarian function and follicular reserve in rats with cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)?

DESIGN

In this experimental study, 24 adult female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control; POI; POI + atorvastatin; and atorvastatin. After treatment with atorvastatin, serum concentrations of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, malondialdehyde, FSH, oestradiol, anti-Müllerian hormone, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 were evaluated. Additionally, mRNA and protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and VEGF-A; number of follicles; and total volume of the ovary, and volumes of the cortex and medulla were examined.

RESULTS

The results showed that serum concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.001), glutathione, oestradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone (P < 0.05); mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and VEGF-A (P < 0.05); number of primordial and primary follicles (P < 0.001), and preantral and antral follicles (P < 0.01); and total volume of the ovary, and volume of the cortex (P < 0.05) increased significantly in the POI + atorvastatin group compared with the POI group. Serum concentrations of malondialdehyde, FSH, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6; and mRNA and protein expression of Bax decreased significantly in the POI + atorvastatin group compared with the POI group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Atorvastatin reduces the detrimental effects of cyclophosphamide in the POI model significantly by reducing oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines; regulating the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and VEGF-A; and improving ovarian function and follicular reserve.

The Low Survivability of Transplanted Gonadal Grafts: The Impact of Cryopreservation and Transplantation Conditions on Mitochondrial Function

Advances in tissue preservation techniques have allowed reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to flourish in recent years. Because radio- and chemotherapy procedures are often gonadotoxic, irreversible damage can preclude future gamete production and endocrine support. Accordingly, in recent years, the freezing and storage of gonadal tissue fragments prior to the first oncological treatment appointment and autologous transplantation post-recovery have been considered improved solutions for fertility recovery in cancer survivors. Nevertheless, the cryopreservation and transplantation of thawed tissues is still very limited, and positive outcomes are relatively low. This review aims to discuss the limitations of oncofertility protocols with a focus on the impacts of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and the loss of antioxidant defense in graft integrity.

The significant improvement in ovarian PCOS syndrome using hydralazine and alendronate aromatase inhibitor FDA-approved drugs in Wistar rat models

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of vitamin C, glutamine, mesalazine, hydralazine, and alendronate as new drug candidates for the treatment of letrozole-induced PCOS in female Wistar rats. PCOS was induced in rats by intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate (2 mg/kg body weight for 28 days). The rats then received normal saline (PCOS group), letrozole (0.5 mg/kg), vitamin C (100 mg/kg), glutamine (1000 mg/kg), mesalazine (200 mg/kg), hydralazine (30 mg/kg), and alendronate (17.5 mg/kg). Serum testosterone, LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone levels were determined by ELISA method. H&E staining was used for histological analysis in the ovarian tissues. The groups treated with hydralazine and alendronate, show a significant decrease in testosterone, LH hormone, cystic and atretic follicles, and a significant increase in the number of single layer, multilayer, antral, graafian follicles and the volume of corpus luteum as compared to the PCOS group. Hydrolazine and alendronate appear to be effective in restoring folliculogenesis and increasing ovulation in PCOS rat. So that the natural process of ovulation and the improvement of the histology of polycystic ovaries and its shift towards healthy and active ovaries were observed. This finding supports the potential beneficial effect of hydrolazine and alendronate on improving PCOS complication.

Testosterone enhances taurine synthesis by upregulating androgen receptor and cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase expressions in male mouse liver

Taurine is an end-product of cysteine metabolism, whereas cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSAD) are key enzymes regulating taurine synthesis. Sex steroids, including estrogens and androgens, are associated with liver physiopathological processes; however, we still do not know whether taurine and sex steroids interact in regulating liver physiology and hepatic diseases, and whether there are sex differences, although our recent study shows that the estrogen is involved in regulating taurine synthesis in mouse liver. The present study was thus proposed to identify whether 17-β-estradiol and testosterone (T) play their roles by regulating CDO and CSAD expression and taurine synthesis in male mouse liver. Our results demonstrated that testosterone did not have a significant influence on CDO expression but significantly enhanced CSAD, androgen receptor (AR) expressions, and taurine levels in mouse liver, cultured hepatocytes, and HepG2 cells, whereas these effects were abrogated by AR antagonist flutamide. Furthermore, our results showed that testosterone increased CSAD-promoter-luciferase activity through the direct interaction of the AR DNA binding domain with the CSAD promoter. These findings first demonstrate that testosterone acts as an important factor to regulate sulfur amino acid metabolism and taurine synthesis through AR/CSAD signaling pathway. In addition, the in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that 17-β-estradiol has no significant effects on liver CSAD expression and taurine synthesis in male mice and suggest that the effects of sex steroids on the taurine synthesis in mouse liver have sex differences. These results are crucial for understanding the physiological functions of taurine/androgen and their interacting mechanisms in the liver.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that testosterone functions to enhance taurine synthesis by interacting with androgen receptor and binding to cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSAD) promoter zone. Whereas estrogen has no significant effects either on liver CSAD expression or taurine synthesis in male mice and suggests that the effects of sex steroids on taurine synthesis in the liver have gender differences. These new findings are the potential for establishing effective protective and therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.

Ovarian Auto-Transplantation of Cryopreserved Tissue on Muscle Surface Compared With Subrenal Capsular in Rats

BACKGROUND

Fertility protection and ovarian function preservation are important to those undergoing radiation therapy to fight female reproductive cancers. The aim of this study was to explore a new ovarian transplantation position, the surface of thigh muscle, which was biceps femoris muscle in rats.

METHODS

We hypothesized that this procedure was comparable to traditional subrenal capsular transplantation and realized a normal ovarian function. The ovarian tissue, after cryopreservation, were transplanted to surface of biceps femoris muscle by suturing.

RESULTS

Histologic examination indicated that the transplanted tissues would survive and support a lower level of follicle growth compared with subrenal capsular (17 ± 2.6 vs 8.9 ± 4; P = .0018). According to weight gaining record, muscle surface transplantation supported appropriate weight gain although the β-estradiol levels did not completely recover. This new procedure could support a basic normal estrous cycle.

CONCLUSION

Ovarian transplantation through this procedure partly rebuilt ovarian function, which was more likely to be an alternative way for those not suitable for subrenal capsular transplantation.

Protective role of taurine against oxidative stress (Review)

Taurine is a fundamental mediator of homeostasis that exerts multiple roles to confer protection against oxidant stress. The development of hypertension, muscle/neuro‑​associated disorders, hepatic cirrhosis, cardiac dysfunction and ischemia/reperfusion are examples of some injuries that are linked with oxidative stress. The present review gives a comprehensive description of all the underlying mechanisms of taurine, with the aim to explain its anti‑oxidant actions. Taurine is regarded as a cytoprotective molecule due to its ability to sustain normal electron transport chain, maintain glutathione stores, upregulate anti‑oxidant responses, increase membrane stability, eliminate inflammation and prevent calcium accumulation. In parallel, the synergistic effect of taurine with other potential therapeutic modalities in multiple disorders are highlighted. Apart from the results derived from research findings, the current review bridges the gap between bench and bedside, providing mechanistic insights into the biological activity of taurine that supports its potential therapeutic efficacy in clinic. In the future, further clinical studies are required to support the ameliorative effect of taurine against oxidative stress.