Effect of Filgrastim on adult male rats' fertility and reproductive performance

Lauric acid improves hormonal profiles, antioxidant properties, sperm quality and histomorphometric changes in testis and epididymis of streptozotocin-induced diabetic infertility rats

Lauric acid, a 12‑carbon atom medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) has strong antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. However, whether lauric acid can ameliorate hyperglycaemia-induced male reproductive damage remains unclear. The study aimed to determine the optimal dose of lauric acid with glucose-lowering activity, antioxidant potential and tissue-protective effects on the testis and epididymis of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Hyperglycaemia was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by an intravenous injection of STZ at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight (bwt). Lauric acid (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg bwt) was administered orally for eight weeks. Weekly fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were examined. Hormonal profiles (insulin and testosterone), lipid peroxidation (MDA) and antioxidant enzyme (SOD and CAT) activities were measured in the serum, testis and epididymis. The reproductive analyses were evaluated based on sperm quality and histomorphometry. Lauric acid administration significantly improved FBG levels, glucose tolerance, hormones-related fertility and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the serum, testis and epididymis compared to untreated diabetic rats. Treatment with lauric acid preserved the testicular and epididymal histomorphometry, along with the significant improvements in sperm characteristics. It is shown for the first time that lauric acid treatment at 50 mg/kg bwt is the optimal dose for ameliorating hyperglycaemia-induced male reproductive complications. We conclude that lauric acid reduced hyperglycaemia by restoring insulin and glucose homeostasis, which attributes to the regeneration of tissue damage and sperm quality in STZ-induced diabetic rats. These findings support the correlation between oxidative stress and hyperglycaemia-induced male reproductive dysfunctions.

Ameliorative effect of avocado oil against lufenuron induced testicular damage and infertility in male rats

Lufenuron is a benzoylurea pesticide that causes significant histological and histochemical damage in mammals. Avocado is a common food in the human diet that contains antioxidant and antitumor properties. In male rats, avocado oil's protection against lufenuron-induced reproductive deterioration, oxidative stress, and DNA damages was investigated. Twenty-eight mature male rats were selected and distributed into four groups: Group 1, control group were administered distilled water orally; Group 2 received 4 ml/kg avocado; Group 3 was given lufenuron (1.6 mg/kg), and Group 4 was given avocado oil/lufenuron. The findings show that lufenuron treatment reduces reproductive hormone levels, sperm count, motility, viability and causes negative histopathological changes in testicular tissue, such as decreased epithelial height and increased luminal diameter degenerated spermatogenesis. Furthermore, lufenuron reduced the content of antioxidant enzymes while increasing the level of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and corresponding DNA damage. Results showed that lufenuron is associated with testicular function impairment, which leads to infertility. Treatment with avocado oil improved reproductive hormone secretions, enzymatic activity, histological and DNA damage parameters in testis tissues, reducing the negative effects of lufenuron, proving that it may have a therapeutic role against lufenuron-mediated testicular toxicity.

Effects of Ocimum tenuiflorum on Induced Testicular Degeneration by Filgrastim in Wistar Rats

Since the creation of man on earth, herbal remedies have been used as an invaluable, safe, and available natural source of medicine for the treatment of several dysfunctions in living animals and human beings. The pharmacological properties of these herbs are commonly known to include analgesic, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, hepatoprotective, reproductive, and cardioprotective potentials. Various nutritional, environmental, and physiological factors can affect the male reproductive system. Several herbal remedies are reported to target the testis at the spermatogenesis and hormonal level. Most of the chemotherapy drugs used for treating cancers cause adverse effects on male reproductive functions. Filgrastim is used for the treatment of cancer in patients suffering from neutropenia. Ocimum tenuiflorum is one of the herbal remedies used as a natural antioxidant substance for protecting the body organs against the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the possible productive effects of the O. tenuiflorum against adverse effects of filgrastim on testicular tissues in male Wistar rats. In total, 40 adult male rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n=10). Group 1 was treated with intraperitoneal administration of filgrastim at a dose of 30.83 µg/kg/day for 1 week. Group 2 received O. tenuiflorum suspended in corn oil and administered by gavages at 20 mg/kg/day for 1 week. Group 3 was intraperitoneally injected with filgrastim at a dose of 30.83 µg/kg/day for 1 week and treated with O. tenuiflorum at similar manure to group 2. Finally, group 4 was treated with placebo (0.9% saline solution). The results showed that filgrastim administration leads to the degeneration of spermatozoa and germ cells in the testicles of rats. The results of the current study showed that O. tenuiflorum has some ameliorating effects on the testicles and fertility of the rats which were treated with filgrastim. Finally, the recorded data showed that O. tenuiflorum has protective effects on testis tissues and reproductive functions in male rats.