Impact of saffron on rat sperm membrane integrity and spermatogenesis status

The effects of safranal against bisphenol AF on some reproductive parameters in male new zealand rabbits

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is used as an analog of the endocrine disruptor BPA, whereas safranal is a powerful antioxidant obtained from the saffron plant. In the current study, the possible effects of BPAF and Safranal on some spermatological parameters, reproductive hormones, oxidant/antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological parameters were investigated. A total of 24 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups (n= 6 for each group). The groups and the treatments they received by oral gavage for 9 weeks are as follows: The control group received 1 ml/day of corn oil, the BPAF group received 20 mg/kg/day of bisphenol AF, the Safranal group received 100 mg/kg/day safranal, and the treatment group received 20 mg/kg/day bisphenol AF and 100 mg/kg/day safranal. Although the spermatological parameters prior to the experiment revealed no differences among the groups, BPAF treatment reduced sperm quantity and motility, and elevated seminal plasma estrogen levels at the end of the study. BPAF treatments also had a negative impact on testicular MDA and GSH levels. It also caused seminiferous tubule degeneration in testicular tissue. On the other hand, the administration of safranal with BPAF decreased estrogen levels while increasing sperm concentration and motility to control group levels. Thus, the results suggested that safranal could have a beneficial effect in reducing BPAF-induced tissue damage. In conclusion, BPAF may have potentially harmful to the male reproductive system and safranal may exhibit a protective effect against BPAF exposure.

The Novel Role of Crocus sativus L. in Enhancing Skin Flap Survival by Affecting Apoptosis Independent of mTOR: A Data-Virtualized Study

BACKGROUND

Despite the improvements to enhance skin flap viability, the effects of ischemia-reperfusion (IR), oxidative stress, necrosis, and apoptosis are still challenging. Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) is highly noticeable due to its tissue-protective and antioxidant properties. So, we aimed to investigate its effects on skin flap viability, oxidative stress, apoptosis markers, histopathological changes, and mTOR/p-mTOR expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

40 Sprauge-Dawley rats, weighting 200-240 g, were divided into four groups including: (1) Sham (8 × 3 cm skin cut, without elevation); (2) Flap Surgery (8 × 3 cm skin flap with elevation from its bed); (3) Saffron 40 mg/kg + Flap Surgery; and (4) Saffron 80 mg/kg + Flap Surgery. Saffron was administrated orally for 7 days. At day 7, flap necrosis percentage, histopathological changes, malondialdehyde level, Myeloperoxidase and superoxide dismutase activity, Bax, Bcl-2, mTOR, and p-mTOR expression were measured. Protein expressions were controlled by β-Actin.

RESULTS

Saffron administration decreased flap necrosis percentage (p < 0.01), which was not dose-dependent. Treatment groups showed significant histological healing signs (Neovascularization, Fibroblast migration, Epithelialization, and Epithelialization thickness), decreased MDA content (p < 0.01), increased SOD (p < 0.01) and decreased MPO activity (p < 0.01). Bax and Bcl-2 expression, decreased and increased respectively in treated groups (p < 0.0001). mTOR and p-mTOR expression were not changed significantly in Saffron treated groups.

CONCLUSION

Saffron could increase skin flap viability, alleviate necrosis, decrease oxidative stress and decrease apoptotic cell death, after skin flap surgery, but it acts independent of the mTOR pathway. So, Saffron could potentially be used clinically to enhance skin flap viability.

NO LEVEL ASSIGNED

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. https://www.springer.com/00266.

Molecular analysis of Iranian colorectal cancer patients at risk for Lynch syndrome: a new molecular, clinicopathological feature

PURPOSE

Microsatellite instability (MSI) and mismatch repair (MMR) gene expression present a hallmark mutational signature of Lynch syndrome as a common hereditary cancer predisposing condition. Since there is not enough data of molecular and clinicopathological aspects of the disease in Iranian populations, this article is a new description in Central Iran.

METHODS

It is a descriptive analytical study in which we screened 1659 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients based on early-onset disease and Amsterdam II criteria during 14 years (2000-2013). MSI testing was applied through a commercial kit evaluating five mononucleotide markers (BAT-25, BAT-26, MON0-27, NR-21, and NR-24) using a fluorescent multiplex PCR method. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was set up to detect expression of four mismatch repair (MMR) genes including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. SPSS 16 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Overall, 31 of 45 screened at-risk families were eventually included to MSI testing of which 9/31 patients (∼29 %) showed MSI in their tumor tissues including 6 (19.4 %) MSI-H (high). BAT-26 was the most instable marker with instability in 7/31 MSI tumors (22.6 %). IHC-MMR staining was absent in 7/31 probands (22.6 %) of which in 4 cases, both MSH2/MSH6 (57.1 %) and, in 2 cases, both MLH1/PMS2 showed deficiency (28.6 %), and just in one case, MSH6 was defective (14.3 %). IHC-MMR was absent in all 6 MSI-H tumors while none of 3 MSI-L tumors were MMR-deficient. Just single MSH6-defective tumor showed MSS state. The frequency of CRC among MMR-deficient and MMR-proficient families was 67.5 and 27.9 %, respectively. The most common extracolonic cancer among both MMR-deficient and MMR-proficient groups was stomach, respectively, with 26.7 and 16.5 %.

CONCLUSIONS

A different molecular and clinicopathological phenotype of tumors in CRC Iranian patients at risk for Lynch syndrome could suggest some new molecular mechanisms about which more evaluations are necessary.