In vitro cytogenetic testing of an organoselenium compound and its sulfur analogue in cultured rat bone marrow cells

Improvement of Sperm Motility Within One Month Under Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation in Four Infertile Dogs with Low Selenium Status

Introduction

Significant improvement of sperm motility within one month effected by oral supplementation of selenium and vitamin E was described in four infertile male dogs which failed to conceive in their last three matings with different bitches.

Material and Methods

The dogs (a Golden Retriever, an English Cocker Spaniel, and two Tibetan Mastiffs) were supplemented daily with selenium (Se) (0.6 mg/kg organic Se yeast) and vitamin E (vit. E) (5 mg/kg) per os for 60 days. Semen was collected on days 0, 30, 60, and 90. The sperm concentration and motility parameters were evaluated by the CASA system, sperm morphology was explored by Diff-Quick staining, and live and dead spermatozoa were differentiated by eosin/nigrosin staining. The concentrations of Se and vit. E were measured in peripheral blood serum on semen collection days.

Results

Before administration, the concentrations of Se in blood plasma were low (86.0–165.0 μg/L). After 30 days of treatment there was an observable improvement in total and progressive sperm motility and kinematic parameters (VAP, VSK, VCL, ALH, BCF, and RAPID). The percentages of live and normal morphology sperm cells were also higher. There was also an observable increase in Se and vitamin E concentrations in blood serum. Bitches were successfully mated and delivered four to six puppies.

Conclusion

Supplementation with Se and vit. E improved rapid sperm motility and restored fertility in infertile dogs with low Se status.

Antimutagenic activities of two suspected anticarcinogenic bifunctional organoiron seleno-terephthalate derivatives

Two newly bifunctional organoiron seleno-terephthalate derivatives (S1 and S2) were synthesized as potential anticarcinogenic compounds. In a previous study, they were found to have antibacterial and/or antifungal activity, while they did not show any mutagenic action. Such compounds were investigated in the present study for their antimutagenic activity. Sodium azide, hydrogen peroxide, and 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, as known mutagens for strains TA100, TA102, and TA98 of Salmonella typhimurium, respectively, were used. Both (S1 and S2) compounds showed a strong antimutagenic action of >98% against sodium azide, >70% against hydrogen peroxide, and >65% activity against 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine. Bearing in mind the strong correlation between mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, the above compounds can be considered as potentially promising anticarcinogens. Therefore, the present results are very encouraging to investigate the above compounds for other biological activities, including their evaluation as anticarcinogens. A suggested mechanism for the antimutagenicity of the tested compounds is presented.

Saeng-Ji-Hwang has a protective effect on adriamycin-induced cytotoxicity in cardiac muscle cells

This study examined the effect of Saeng-Ji-Hwang (SJH: Radix Rehmanniae) on cardiac muscle cells. Adriamycin-exposed H9C2 cardiac muscle cells were treated with a water extract of SJH. The adriamycin induced cell death and caspase-3 activation were significantly inhibited by SJH (2 mg/ml), which can be explained by the increase in Bcl-2 expression and the inhibition of Bax expression. Adriamycin reduced the Mn-SOD protein expression level in H9C2 cardiac muscle cells but a SJH treatment partially but significantly reversed this effect. Manganese (Mn)-TBAP or Mn-TMyM--mitochondria-specific SOD mimetic agent--reduced the adriamycin-induced cytotoxicity. It was also shown that SJH inhibits the release of H2O2 and prevents lipid peroxidation in the presence of adriamycin. This study examined the intracellular GSH level, which showed that adriamycin significantly decreased the intracellular GSH level but SJH increased it. BSO, a selective inhibitor of glutamyl cysteinyl ligase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, did not affect the viability of the cardiac muscle cells. However, a combination of BSO with SJH in the presence of adriamycin reversed the SJH-induced protection. Overall, the results suggest that SJH-associated Mn-SOD and GSH are important factors in the mechanism of the SJH-induced protective mechanism in H9C2 cardiac muscle cells.