Effect of shell as natural testosterone boosters in Sprague Dawley rats

Nutritional aphrodisiacs: Biochemistry and Pharmacology

In 2022, the global prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) was estimated to be at least 150 million cases. This number is greatly suspected to be underestimate as most men withhold information about ED. Also, about 15% of world population have infertility troubles, and male factors are responsible for almost half of these cases. Studies have shown that the quality of semen has decreased in the past several decades owing to various health factors and environmental toxicants. The current medical interventions involve the inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 which suffer from serious side effects and costly. One of the popular and most sought interventions are the natural and nutritional remedies as they are foods in essence and potentially with no harm to the body. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to provide a review of the most common nutritional aphrodisiacs with increasing libido and fertility highlighting the potential active constituents as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Growth, pectoralis muscle performance, and testis of pelung cockerels (Gallus gallus gallus [Linnaeus, 1758]) supplemented with blood clam shell powder (Anadara granosa [Linnaeus, 1758])

Background and Aim: Pelung cockerels (Gallus gallus gallusGallus gallus gallus [Linnaeus, 1758]) are different from other native cockerels in that they have a long and unique voice, in addition to their tall, large, and sturdy body with a relatively heavy body weight (BW). The sound quality of pelung cockerels is affected by the structure of the syrinx and their large and strong chest muscles. The performance of the chest muscles, and subsequently its voice, is influenced by the hormone testosterone. The shell of blood clams (Anadara granosa Linnaeus, 1758), a saltwater bivalve is known to contain a natural aromatase blocker (NAB) capable of blocking the aromatase enzyme from converting testosterone to estradiol. This generates consistently high levels of testosterone. This study aimed to determine the effect of blood clam shell powder (BCSP) as an NAB on the growth, pectoralis muscle performance, and testes of pelung cockerels. Materials and Methods: The study design was a completely randomized design, with 16 pelung cockerels aged 40–56 weeks divided into four treatment groups: T0 (control); T1 (BCSP [A. granosa] 0.9 mg/kg BW); T2 (zinc sulfate [ZnSO4] 0.9 mg/kg BW); and T3 (testosterone 3 mg/day). The animals were acclimatized for 7 days and then given dietary treatments for 56 days. The measurement of the comb, wattle, and chest circumference (CC) of pelung cockerels was performed on days 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. At the end of the treatment, the pelung cockerels were sacrificed and the data of the pectoralis muscle weight (PMW), testis weight (TW), and area of the pectoralis muscle (APM) were measured. Samples of pectoralis muscle and testes were taken and fixed in 10% neutral buffer formalin for histology. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was identified by immunohistochemical staining. To measure fascicle area (FA), myofiber area (MA), and enumerate, the fascicle myofibers (NM) histology preparations were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E). Testicular preparations were stained with H and E to measure the diameter of the seminiferous tubules (DST) using ImageJ software. Results: The growth performance on day 56 showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher differences of CC in T1 compared to T2 and T0, in T1 and T3 compared to T0, and in T3 and T2 compared to T0. Pectoralis muscle results, that is, FA, NM, MA, and PCNA-positive cells, showed that cockerels on treatment T3 had significantly higher results than other treatments, T1 was significantly different from T2 and T0, and T2 was significantly different from T0. In addition, the TW and DST measurement of cockerels on treatment T3 were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) than the other treatment groups. Conclusion: The oral administration of BCSP in the role of a NAB at a dose of 0.9 mg/kg BW for 56 days improved the growth performance and pectoralis muscle, especially the CC, FA, NM, MA, and PCNA-positive cells parameters, but did not affect the PMW, APM, and testis of pelung cockerels. The administration of testosterone at 3 mg/day for 56 days contributed to the decrease in TW and DST, as well as atrophy of the seminiferous tubules of pelung cockerels. Keywords: growth performance, muscle, natural aromatase blocker, pelung, testis.

The Effect of Zinc, Shell, and Fishbone Supplementations on Comb Width and Length of Bangkok Rooster

The Bangkok rooster is a prestigious ornamental bird in Indonesia. Zinc and shell have an aromatase blocker effect that results in testosterone elevations. Additionally, fishbone contains rich protein for optimum biological functions. Serum testosterone regulates comb size in the chicken. This study aimed to investigate the effect of natural aromatase blockers and protein in the comb of Bangkok roosters. This experiment divided thirteen Bangkok roosters into control and treatment groups with zinc, fishbone-shell, and fishbone supplementations. The weekly comb lengthening and widening were intervals between week 0 and the measurement week in this study. The results suggested that fishbone and fishbone-shell supplementations escalated the comb lengthening. Fishbone–shell treatment significantly increased the comb lengthening in the second and fourth weeks (p < 0.05). The significant elongation change in the fishbone group only appeared in the second week (p < 0.05). Otherwise, the treatments produced lower comb widening in the roosters. Fishbone and fishbone-shell supplementation significantly caused a lower widening in every measurement week (p < 0.05). This study uncovered the effects of zinc, shell, and fishbone supplementations on reproductive phenotype in Bangkok roosters.

Zinc and Shell Flour as Innovative Natural Aromatase Blocker to Increase Testosterone Concentration

The hormone testosterone is essential in various biological processes, including reproductive function so its presence in the body must remain stable. Low concentrations of testosterone can affect secondary traits and libido in male animals. Testosterone concentrations are usually increased through hormonal induction, but this will harm long-term administration. The alternative offered in this problem is to give aromatase blockers both in the form of commercial drug injection (letrozole) and natural ingredients (shell powder). Aromatase blockers can inhibit the synthesis of estrogen from testosterone at certain doses that are usually different for each animal, administering aromatase blockers has been shown to increase testosterone concentration, in birds and chickens the administration of aromatase blockers did not have any significant side effects.

The Effect of Natural Aromatase Blocker on the Growth Comb and Body Weight of Layer Chicken

The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of Anadara granosa shell powder as a natural aromatase blocker (NAB) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) on the growth of the length comb, width comb, and body weight (BW) of layer chicken. This study used 45 DOC of layer’s chickens with 3 treatments and 15 replications, those are; control (T0), clamshell powder Anadara granosa as NAB 0.036 mg/40 g BW (T1), and ZnSO4 0.018 mg / 40 g BW (T2). This treatment was given for 35 days. The data on the growth of length comb, width comb, and BW are measured weekly. The data collected was analyzed using one-way ANOVA at the 95% confidence level with the assistance of SPSS. The results of statistical analysis of the length and width of the comb in the same column showed that T0 was not significantly different (p>0.05) from other treatments. The statistical analysis shows that the length and width of the layer’s chicken comb in the same row at T0, T1 and T2 were significantly different (p<0.05). The results of statistical analysis of the BW in the same column showed that T1 was significantly different (p<0.05) from other treatments. It can be concluded that additional NAB 0.036 mg/40 g BW can increase the body weight of male layer chicken after treatment of 35 days. The administration of NAB and ZnSO4 could not increase the growth of the length and width of layer chicken combs. The growth in length and width of layer chicken combs is very fast in the starter phase.

Anadara granosa shell powder improves the metabolism, testosterone level, and sound frequency of Pelung chickens

Background and Aim:

Pelung chickens make unique, pleasant, and rhythmic sounds in addition to having strong muscle mass. Performance is controlled by testosterone. A natural aromatase blocker is an agent capable of blocking the aromatase enzyme, which consequently prevents testosterone from being changed into estradiol. Such a condition results in consistently high testosterone levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the administration of the shell powder of Anadara granosa on the testosterone level, frequency and quality of sounds, and metabolism of Pelung chickens within set parameters of thyroid hormone levels, the triiodothyronine (T₃)/thyroxine (T₄) ratio, and weight gain.

Materials and Methods:

This study used four Pelung chickens aged 14 months. Control data consisted of data before treatment (day 0). Shell powder of A. granosa was administered for 56 days. Body weight (BW) was measured, and blood samples were drawn. In addition, the sounds from Pelung chickens were recorded once every 2 weeks on days 14, 28, 42, and 56. The blood samples were analyzed using the enzyme immunoassay method to determine testosterone, T₃, and T₄ levels. The sounds of Pelung chickens were recorded using the Hagemon touch method and analyzed using the Audacity application.

Results:

The results showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the levels of testosterone, BW, and sound frequency after the administration of A. granosa shell powder, but the administration did not have a significant effect on the levels of T₄ and T₃ hormones (thyroid hormone), T₃/T₄ ratio, or sound duration. The testosterone content and BW of Pelung chickens increased from day 14 to day 56, whereas T₃ was indicative of the same profile as the T₄ hormone. However, T₃ and T₄ levels and the T₃/T₄ ratio decreased and increased, respectively. The sound frequency of Pelung chickens increased from day 0 to day 14, although sound duration decreased.

Conclusion:

The administration of A. granosa shell powder at 0.9 mg/kg BW orally could improve the metabolism, testosterone level, BW, and sound frequency of Pelung chickens.

The Effect of Natural Aromatase Blockers on the Testicle Weight, Size of Wattle and Histopathological of Testis In Bangkok

The aromatase enzyme is an enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. This means that by administering aromatase blockers, testosterone levels increase and estrogen levels decrease. The problem faced is how the spermatogenesis process occurs because estrogen is needed as well in the process. This study aimed to evaluate the histopathological features of the testes due to the administration of natural aromatase blockers (NAB). Fifteen male Bangkok chickens were divided into 5 groups, namely: control group (C); testosterone continues (Tc 0.4 mg/bird/day); natural aromatase blockers 33 (NAB 3.3 g/bird); natural aromatase blockers 66 (NAB 6.6 g/bird); zinc (Zn): 0.45 mg/kg body weight (BW). The oral treatment was given for 35 days. The results showed that NAB did not affect wattle growth, but significantly affected testicle weight (p-value < 0.05). The NAB 66 group had the heaviest testis weight, followed by zinc, continuous testosterone, NAB 33 group, and the control group. This results was confirmed by HE staining on the testes which showed the thickness of the thickest spermatogenic and spermatid cell layers in the NAB 66 group. It was concluded that giving NAB did not harm the spermatogenesis process.