The evaluation of citral effects on experimental unilateral testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury

The potential prophylactic and therapeutic impacts of niacin on ischemia/reperfusion injury of testis

INTRODUCTION

The testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is characterized by the excessive aggregation of un-scavenged reactive oxygen species, leading to the heightened levels of oxidative stress. This phenomenon plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of testicular torsion damage.

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to detect the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of niacin on testicular I/R injury.

STUDY DESIGN

Twenty-four healthy adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly allocated into three groups as follows: (1) sham group, (2) torsion/detorsion (T/D) group, and (3) treatment group which received 200 mg/kg niacin along with testicular T/D. Torsion/detorsion was induced by 2 h of torsion followed by 10 days of reperfusion period. In the treatment group, niacin was injected 30 min before the reperfusion period intraperitoneally and continued for 10 days by oral gavage.

RESULTS

T/D was associated with marked decreases in terms of sperm count, viability, and kinematic parameters versus the sham group (P < 0.05), which niacin significantly reverted the kinematic parameters (P < 0.05). I/R injury caused a significant increase in the number of abnormal epididymal sperms compared to the sham group (P < 0.05). Niacin decreased the epididymal sperm abnormality significantly compared to the T/D group (P < 0.05). Tissue abnormalities in T/D group, such as edema, hyperemia, inflammation, and necrosis were completely visible histopathologically, while the histological changes in the niacin-treated group were better than those in the T/D group. Regarding the pathological parametric evaluations, I/R injury significantly reduced the mean testicular biopsy score (MTBS), germinal epithelial cell thickness (GECT), and mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD), and increased the tubular hypoplasia/atrophy (THA) compared to the sham group (P < 0.05), which niacin treatment significantly improved the MTBS and GECT compared to the T/D group (P < 0.05). T/D significantly increased the oxidative stress index (OSI) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) (P < 0.05). Niacin significantly reduced the OSI and MDA levels compared to the T/D group (P < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

The current study found that niacin has preventive/therapeutic effects against the elevation of oxidative stress markers and depletion of antioxidants during I/R injury. Following administration of niacin, a reduction in histologic injury was observed in rats. In our study, we showed the antioxidant properties of niacin and its capacity to protect against I/R damage.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present investigation revealed that niacin, as an antioxidant agent, can suppress the oxidative stress induced by testicular I/R injury, and can be used as a supplementary agent in the treatment of those undergoing testicular torsion surgery.

Cantharidin-induced toxic injury, oxidative stress, and autophagy attenuated by Astragalus polysaccharides in mouse testis

Cantharidin (CTD) is a chemical constituent derived from Mylabris and has good antitumor effects, but its clinical use is restricted by its inherent toxicity. However, few researches have reported its reproductive toxicity and mechanisms. This study aims to assess CTD's toxicity on mouse testes and the protective effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS). Briefly, biochemical analysis, histopathology, transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting were used to evaluate the oxidative damage of mouse testicular tissue after exposure to CTD and treatment by APS. Our research suggests a dramatic decrease in testicular index and serum testosterone levels after CTD exposure. The testis showed obvious oxidative damage accompanied by an increase in mitochondrial autophagy, the Nfr2-Keap1 pathway was inhibited, and the blood-testis barrier was destroyed. Notably, these changes were significantly improved after APS treatment. The internal mechanisms of APS ameliorate CTD-induced testicular oxidative damage in mice may be closely connected to regulatory the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway, restraining autophagy, and repairing the blood-testis barrier, providing theoretical support for further study on the reproductive toxicity mechanism of CTD and clinical treatments to ameliorate it.

Genetic and histopathological analysis of spermatogenesis after short-term testicular torsion in rats

BACKGROUND

Patients with testicular torsion (TT) may exhibit impaired spermatogenesis from reperfusion injury after detorsion surgery. Alteration in the expressions of spermatogenesis-related genes induced by TT have not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

Eight-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped as follows: group 1 (sham-operated), group 2 (TT without reperfusion) and group 3 (TT with reperfusion). TT was induced by rotating the left testis 720° for 1 h. Testicular reperfusion proceeded for 24 h. Histopathological examination, oxidative stress biomarker measurements, RNA sequencing and RT-PCR were performed.

RESULTS

Testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury induced marked histopathological changes. Germ cell apoptosis was significantly increased in group 3 compared with group 1 and 2 (mean apoptotic index: 26.22 vs. 0.64 and 0.56; p = 0.024, and p = 0.024, respectively). Johnsen score in group 3 was smaller than that in group 1 and 2 (mean: 8.81 vs 9.45 and 9.47 points/tubule; p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury significantly upregulated the expression of genes associated with apoptosis and antioxidant enzymes and significantly downregulated the expression of genes associated with spermatogenesis.

CONCLUSION

One hour of TT followed by reperfusion injury caused histopathological testicular damage. The relatively high Johnsen score indicated spermatogenesis was maintained. Genes associated with spermatogenesis were downregulated in the TT rat model.

IMPACT

How ischemia/reperfusion injury in testicular torsion (TT) affects the expressions of genes associated with spermatogenesis has not been fully elucidated. This is the first study to report comprehensive gene expression profiles using next generation sequencing for an animal model of TT. Our results revealed that ischemia/reperfusion injury downregulated the expression of genes associated with spermatogenesis and sperm function in addition to histopathological damage, even though the duration of ischemia was short.

Evaluation of semen DNA integrity and related parameters with COVID-19 infection: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In the context of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, Its impact on male reproductive function should be concerned.

METHODS

Our study is a prospective cohort study that recruited participants infected or uninfected with COVID-19 between December 2022 and March 2023. All laboratory tests and questionnaire data were completed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. A total of 132 participants were enrolled, with 78 COVID-19 positive patients as the positive group and 54 COVID-19 negative participants as the negative group. Semen quality was assessed by the fifth World Health Organization criteria. The general characteristics of semen samples were assessed using CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis). DNA damage and the high density stainability was assessed by sperm chromatin structure analysis (SCSA) based on flowcytometry.

RESULTS

The sperm concentration, progressive motility and motility in COVID-19 negative group were significantly higher than positive group. In the following DNA damage analysis, a remarkably lower sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in the COVID-19 negative group. In the positive group, unhealthy lifestyles had no significant effect on semen parameters, DNA fragmentation and nuclear compaction.

CONCLUSIONS

After excluding the interference of unhealthy lifestyle, the COVID-19 infection can have a significant impact on the quality of semen, especially the DFI,. Therefore, it shows that COVID-19 can adversely affects male fertility, and this result provides advisory guidance for clinicians.

Novel treatment and insight for irradiation-induced injuries: Dibucaine ameliorates irradiation-induced testicular injury by inhibiting fatty acid oxidation in primary Leydig cells

BACKGROUND

Male infertility is a worldwide problem but few treatments, especially irradiation-induced testicular injury. The aim of this research was to investigate novel drugs for the treatment of irradiation-induced testicular injury.

METHODS

We administered dibucaine (0.8 mg/kg) intraperitoneally to male mice (6 mice per group) after five consecutive daily 0.5 Gy whole-body irradiation, and evaluated its ameliorating efficacy by testicular HE staining and morphological measurements. Drug affinity responsive target stability assay (Darts) were used to find target protein and pathway; mouse primary Leydig cells were isolated and to explore the mechanism (Flow cytometry, Western blot, and Seahorse palmitate oxidative stress assays); finally rescue experiments were completed by combining dibucaine with fatty acid oxidative pathway inhibitors and activators.

RESULTS

The testicular HE staining and morphological measurements in dibucaine treatment group was significantly better than that in irradiation group (P < 0.05); sperm motility and mRNA levels of spermatogenic cell markers were also higher than those in the latter (P < 0.05). Darts and Western blot results showed that dibucaine targets CPT1A and downregulate fatty acid oxidation. Flow cytometry, Western blot, and Palmitate oxidative stress assays of primary Leydig cells demonstrated that dibucaine inhibits fatty acid oxidation in Leydig cells. Dibucaine combined with etomoxir/baicalin confirmed that its inhibition of fatty acid oxidation was beneficial in ameliorating irradiation-induced testicular injury.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our data suggest that dibucaine ameliorates irradiation-induced testicular injury in mice by inhibiting fatty acid oxidation in Leydig cells. This will provide novel ideas for the treatment of irradiation-induced testicular injury.