Comparative study of the effects of gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin and ofloxacin antibiotics on sperm parameters and testis apoptosis in rats

The research progress on the impact of antibiotics on the male reproductive system

Antibiotics are extensively utilized in the livestock and poultry industry and can accumulate in animals and the environment, leading to potential health risks for humans via food and water consumption. Research on antibiotic toxicity, particularly their impact as endocrine disruptors on the male reproductive system, is still in its nascent stages. This review highlights the toxic effect of antibiotics on the male reproductive system, detailing the common routes of exposure and the detrimental impact and mechanisms of various antibiotic classes. Additionally, it discusses the protective role of food-derived active substances against the reproductive toxicity induced by antibiotics. This review aims to raise awareness about the reproductive toxicity of antibiotics in males and to outline the challenges that must be addressed in future research.

Zamzam Water Ameliorates Gentamicin-Induced Testicular Toxicity in a Rat Model via Targeting Sperm Parameters, Testicular Tissue Oxidative Insult, Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Pituitary-Gonadal Axis

Gentamicin is considered one of the most typical causes of testicular damage. Oxidative stress is a significant contributor to testicular tissue damage. Zamzam water (alkaline in nature) has an antioxidant effect. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential palliative effect of Zamzam water against gentamicin-induced testicular damage. Thirty Rats were separated into three groups, each with ten rats, as follows: The Control received only normal saline. The gentamicin group received 100 mg/kg/day of gentamicin intraperitoneally for six days from day 15 to the end of the experiment. The gentamicin +Zamzam Water group received a dose of gentamicin 100 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally with Zamzam water as their sole source of drinking from day one to day 21. Hormonal assay in serum, histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural examination of testicular tissue with a molecular study were obtained. Pretreatment with Zamzam water significantly p < 0.001 increased serum levels of testosterone, FSH, and LH, as well as the percentage of sperm motility and progressive motility. It also upregulated SOD, CAT, GPx enzymatic activity, gene expression of Nrf2/HO-1, and immunoexpression of PCNA. While the percentage of dead sperm and abnormal sperm, immunoexpression of NFκB, Caspase 3, inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and MDA levels significantly (p < 0.001) declined with histological improvement. It was concluded that Zamzam water as alkaline water possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects against gentamicin-induced testicular toxicity in vivo.

Impact of Fennel Essential Oil as an Antibiotic Alternative in Rabbit Diet on Antioxidant Enzymes Levels, Growth Performance, and Meat Quality

In the current study, fennel essential oil was used as an antibiotic alternative compared to gentamycin for enhancing the expression of apoptosis genes and antioxidant enzymes in weaned rabbits as well as meat quality and growth performance. The gene expression of the cell lymphoma 2 (BAX and BCL2), caspase3 (CASP3), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) were estimated in the liver tissue using qRT-PCR. A total of 45 Moshtohor weaned male rabbits aged four weeks were randomly allocated to control, T1, and T2 treatment groups; each consisted of 15 weaned male rabbits with five replicates. Rabbits in the T1 and T2 groups were orally supplied with 1 mL fennel oil and 1 mL gentamycin, respectively. Weaned rabbits under different treatments showed increased body weight (BW) at 8 and 12 weeks of age and average daily gain (ADG) at 4-8 and 4-12 weeks of age compared to the control group. Compared to the controls, the weaned rabbits supplemented with fennel oil and gentamycin had lower total cholesterol, triglyceride, and MDA. In addition, villus length, mRNA of BAX, BCL2, Casp3, and GPX were increased in the different treatments compared to the control. Furthermore, the meat of these rabbits was less tender, had a lower aerobic plate count (APC), pH, and was brighter and redder in color than the control. Under the conditions of the present study, the supplementation of weaned Moshtohor rabbits with fennel oil as a natural alternative for gentamycin enhanced feed conversion and daily gain through enhancing villus length and mucus thickness. Additionally, fennel essential oil reduces oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant enzymes.

Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of lycopene and insulin in the hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

In the present study the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of insulin and lycopene on passive avoidance memory, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde activity (MDA) and prevention of apoptosis in the hippocampus streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were examined. The rats were randomly divided to six experimental groups (n=8 per group): Non-diabetic (controls); diabetic; diabetic treated with lycopene; diabetic treated with insulin; diabetic treated with lycopene and insulin; and normal treated with lycopene. Intraperitoneal injection of single dose (60 mg/kg) streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce the diabetes rat model. The shuttle box test was used for learning and memory assessment. Rats were then sacrificed and hippocampi tissue isolated from the two hemispheres to determine TAC and MDA. Apoptosis rate was also evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling and acridine orange staining assays. The results indicated that lycopene and insulin, solely or in combination, prevented hippocampal neuronal cell death and improved learning and cognition by increasing TAC and decreasing MDA. Collectively, the findings presented herein suggest that insulin and lycopene co-treatment has neuroprotective effect, and ameliorates STZ-induced learning and memory impairment and apoptotic cell death in the hippocampal regions of diabetic rats.

The impact of drugs on male fertility: a review

Beside cytotoxic drugs, other drugs can impact men's fertility through various mechanisms. Via the modification of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones or by non-hormonal mechanisms, drugs may directly and indirectly induce sexual dysfunction and spermatogenesis impairment and alteration of epididymal maturation. This systematic literature review summarizes existing data about the negative impact and associations of pharmacological treatments on male fertility (excluding cytotoxic drugs), with a view to making these data more readily available for medical staff. In most cases, these effects on spermatogenesis/sperm maturation/sexual function are reversible after the discontinuation of the drug. When a reprotoxic treatment cannot be stopped and/or when the impact on semen parameters/sperm DNA is potentially irreversible (Sulfasalazine Azathioprine, Mycophenolate mofetil and Methotrexate), the cryopreservation of spermatozoa before treatment must be proposed. Deleterious impacts on fertility of drugs with very good or good level of evidence (Testosterone, Sulfasalazine, Anabolic steroids, Cyproterone acetate, Opioids, Tramadol, GhRH analogues and Sartan) are developed.

Anti-oxidative role of quercetin derived from Allium cepa on aldehyde oxidase (OX-LDL) and hepatocytes apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat

OBJECTIVE

To study the role of Quercetin in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

METHODS

Wistar male rat (n=40) were allocated into three groups, control group (n=10) and Quercetin (QR) group received 15 mg/kg (IP) QR, (n=10), and diabetic group that received 55 mg/kg (IP) streptozotocin (STZ) (n=20) which was subdivided to two groups of 10; STZ group and treatment group. Treatment group received 55 mg/kg (IP) STZ plus 15 mg/kg QR, daily for 4 weeks, respectively; however, the control group just received an equal volume of distilled water daily (IP). Diabetes was induced by a single (IP) injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Animals were kept in standard condition. Twenty-eight days after inducing diabetic, 5 mL blood were collected for TAC, MDA and Ox-LDL levels and liver tissues of rat in whole groups were removed then prepared for apoptosis analysis by Tunel method.

RESULTS

Apoptotic cells significantly decreased in group that has received 15 mg/kg (IP) Quercetin (P<0.05) in comparison to experimental groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Since in our study 15 mg/kg (IP) Quercetin have significantly Preventive effect on liver cells damages by reducing number of apoptotic cells in Liver, so it seems that using it can be effective for treatment in diabetic rat.

Antifertility potentials of metronidazole in male Wistar rats

There is a growing concern about the decline in the quality of human sperm in recent years. Following reports by previous studies on the toxic effects of metronidazole on testicular functions, this study is designed to investigate further its direct effects on fertility potentials and that of the introduction of vitamin E and testosterone to metronidazole treated rats. A total of 105 adult male and 50 female Wistar rats weighing 170 +/- 10 g (70-90 day old) were used for the experiment. The rats were randomly divided into a control and experimental groups. There were four major groups with 5 subgroups consisting of 5 rats each. Varying doses of metronidazole were used depending on the experiment. Experiment 1; animals were fed with 15 mg kg(-1) of metronidazole, experiment 2, fed with 30 mg kg(-1) of metronidazole, experiment 3, administered with 200 mg kg(-1) of metronidazole and experiment 4, fed with 400 mg kg(-1) of metronidazole. Each experimental group has 5 sub-groups. A: control, B: group fed with the experimental dose, C: experimental dose with vitamin E, D: experimental dose with testosterone, E: fed with experimental dose, vitamin E and testosterone and sub-group F, a reversal group which was left for 8 weeks after cessation of treatment. Parameters assessed were sperm count/motility, hormonal assay, Fertility test for control and treated rats were also carried out. Results showed that metronidazole at the therapeutic dose of 15 mg kg(-1) did not have significant negative effect on the parameters assessed. At the dose of 200 and 400 mg kg(-1), there was reduction in testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone while on the other hand, luteinizing hormone was increased mostly with 400 mg kg(-1) of metronidazole treatment. Body weight was also found to be significantly reduced in rats treated with 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) of metronidazole. The results of this study indicate that metronidazole administration (200 or 400 mg kg(-1)), for 8 weeks, caused a harmful effect on fertility potentials in male rats.

Melatonin prevents gentamicin-induced testicular toxicity and oxidative stress in rats

This study investigated the protective effects of melatonin (MT) against gentamicin (GM)-induced testicular toxicity and oxidative damage in rats. GM (100 mg kg(-1) ) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to rats for 6 days. MT (15 mg kg(-1) ) was administered i.p. to rats for 6 days at 1 hr after the GM treatment. GM caused a decrease in prostate and seminal vesicle weights, sperm count and sperm motility. Histopathological examination showed various morphological alterations in the testis, characterised by degeneration of spermatogonia/spermatocytes, decrease in the number of early spermatogenic cells and vacuolisation. In addition, an increased malondialdehyde concentration and decreased glutathione content and glutathione reductase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities were found in the testis. In contrast, MT treatment significantly attenuated the testicular toxicity of GM, including decreased reproductive organ weights, sperm count, and sperm motility and increased histopathological alterations. MT also had an antioxidant benefit by decreasing the lipid peroxidative product malondialdehyde and increasing the level of the antioxidant glutathione and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the testis. These results indicate that MT prevents testicular toxicity induced by GM in rats, presumably due to its potent antioxidant activity, and its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation, and restore antioxidant enzyme activity.

Sperm parameters: paradigmatic index of good health and longevity

Since the discovery of spermatozoon by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1677, there has been an ever increasing understanding of its role in reproduction. Many factors adversely affect sperm quality, including varicocele, accessory gland infection, immunological factors, congenital abnormalities, and iatrogenic systemic and endocrine causes, such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and smoking. The mechanisms responsible for the association between poor sperm parameters and ill health may include oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, low testosterone, and low sex-hormone-binding globulin. Oxidative stress in the testicular microenvironment may result in decreased spermatogenesis and sperm DNA damage, loss of sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology. Low testosterone caused by advanced age, visceral obesity, and inflammation is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Hence, semen analysis has an important role in the routine evaluation of idiopathic male infertility, usually manifested as low sperm counts, impaired sperm motility, or absence of sperm, and remains the most common single diagnostic tool. Several studies have shown an inverse relationship between semen quality and medical disorders. This review elucidates the effect of medical disorders and social habits on sperm quality, the mechanisms that are involved in the impairment of sperm quality, and whether or not sperm quality can be used as an index of good health and longevity in a man.

Long-term ofloxacin testicular toxicity: an experimental study

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term toxic effect of ofloxacin on the testes and epididymides of 72 adult male albino rats. The rats were divided into group A and group B. Group A, which received ofloxacin for 14 days, was subdivided into two subgroups; LD-14 received low dose 72 mg KBW(-1) daily and HD-14 received high dose 216 mg KBW(-1) daily. Group B, which received ofloxacin for 28 days, was subdivided into two subgroups; LD-28 received 72 mg KBW(-1) and HD-28 received 216 mg KBW(-1) daily. Two matched control groups were followed up for 14 and 28 days respectively. The animals were evaluated for body weight, testicular weight, relative testicular weight, serum testosterone (T), epididymal sperm analysis (sperm count, motility, morphology, curvilinear velocity, linear velocity and linearity index) and testicular histopathology. The adverse effects of ofloxacin were correlated with increased treatment duration and/or dose. It is concluded that long-term ofloxacin has a direct detrimental effect on the testicles of albino rats at the studied doses and durations.