Rat Sperm Research Articles

The effects of sacubitril/valsartan and ramipril on the male fertility in hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE:Renin angiotensinogen system (RAS) inhibitors, ramipril and sacubitril/valsartan are frequently used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Although they are known as contraindicated during pregnancy in hypertensive women, there is not any outcome of their safety in male fertility after exposure to ramipril or sacubitril/valsartan. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of ramipril and sacubitril/valsartan to highlight their safety in the male fertility in normotensive and hypertensive rats.METHODS:Adult male normotensive and dexamethasone-induced hypertensive rats were treated with sacubitril/valsartan, ramipril and saline for 18 days. Arterial blood pressures were verified using carotid artery cannulation. Male fertility parameters, including the testis weights, histopathologic scoring of the testis, sperm count, sperm motility, morphology, and serum testosterone levels, were analyzed in treated and nontreated normotensive/hypertensive rats.RESULTS:Sacubitril/valsartan or ramipril treatments did not reveal a significant difference in sperm production, testicular morphology, and radioimmunoassay of serum testosterone levels compared to the control group. However, sperm motility was significantly reduced in rats under RAS inhibition.CONCLUSION:This finding was likely mediated by the identification of Ang receptors in the tails of rat sperm given that Ang receptors may play a role in the modulation of sperm motility. Identification of RAS-related proteins involved in sperm motility may help to explain their roles in motility. Our data provide general safety evidence for the male fertilization ability after paternal sacubitril/valsartan and ramipril exposure.

The Effect of Continuous Multistage Countercurrent Extraction (CMCE) Propolis Extract Administration on Leydig, and Sertoli Cells Counts, and Sperm Quality Induced With Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) (An experimental study on male Wistar rat induced by monosodium glutamate)

INTRODUCTION: ROS is the most common cause of male infertility. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a compound which produces ROS and decreases FSH and LH levels. Continuous Multistage Countercurrent Extraction (CMCE) propolis extract as an antioxidant is evidently capable of reducing ROS concentration. OBJECTIVE: this research aims at evaluating the effect of CMCE propolis extract administration on Leydig cells and Sertoli cells counts and sperm quality of MSG-induced male wistar rats. METHODS: employing the Post Test Only Control Group Design, 18 rats were divided into 3 groups: control group, treated only with MSG (MS-G), and treatment groups, respectively treated with CMCE propolis extract at doses 8.3mg/day (CM8-G) and 10.8mg/day (CM10-G). CMCE propolis extract was given orally for 21 days. At the end of treatment, sperm and testis were taken to evaluate the Leydig cells and Sertoli cells counts and sperm quality. The sperm obtained from epididymis was analyzed using the WHO standards, while Leydig cells and Sertoli cells were counted from preparation using the HE stain method. RESULTS: the Post Hoc analysis result shows that the Leydig and Sertoli cells counts and sperm quality of CM8-G and CM10-G are significantly higher than those of MS-G, p<0.05. The Leydig cells and Sertoli cells counts and sperm quality of CM10-G are significantly higher than those of CM8-G, p><0.05. CONCLUSION: CMCE propolis extract administration evidently increases the Leydig cells and Sertoli cells counts and sperm quality from the perspective of the count, motility and morphology of spermatozoa of MSG-induced male wistar rats.><0.05 CONCLUSION: CMCE propolis extract administration evidently increases the Leydig cells and Sertoli cells counts and sperm quality from the perspective of the count, motility and morphology of spermatozoa of MSG-induced male wistar rats.

Protective Effect of Curcumin on Quality Parameters of Sperm and Testicular Tissue Alterations in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats as Animal Model

BACKGROUND: Type one diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multisystem disorder whose effects are observed in the reproductive system. Considering the role of curcumin in lowering blood glucose and enhancing antioxidant defense, this research aimed to determine protective effect of curcumin on quality parameters of sperm and testicular tissue alterations in diabetic rats.METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups, including control (healthy rats), DM (for diabetic model), and also curcumin-treated diabetic model (DM+CUR)50, DM+CUR100 and DM+CUR150. Diabetes was induced using an intraperitoneal injection of 240 mg/ kg alloxan. Following completion of the test period, all rats were sacrificed, and their testes were removed to assess sperm parameters and histological evaluation. The data was analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. The p<0.05 was set as the significance level.RESULTS: Concentration, total sperm motility (TMot), progressive sperm motility (PMot), average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL) of sperm in DM+CUR100 and DM+CUR150 were significantly increased (p=0.005) compared to the diabetic group. Mean diameter (p=0.004) and thickness of the germline epithelium of testis semeniferous tubules (p=0.005) in DM+CUR100 and DM+CUR150 significantly increased compared to the diabetic group.CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that curcumin plays a protective role in testicular tissue alterations and improves sperm parameters. In this regard, curcumin could be suggested to be one of the natural antioxidants that can improve fertility in diabetic patients.KEYWORDS: diabetes mellitus, curcumin, spermatozoa, testis, rats

Fluoxetine and sertraline effects on rat distal cauda epididymis contraction, sperm count and sperm transit time trough epididymis

Fluoxetine and sertraline are antidepressants drugs capable to impair male fertility by decreasing the number of sperm cells in the ejaculate. However, the mechanism underlying these effects is still not fully understood. It is also reported that alterations in epididymis contraction induced by different drugs affect the number of sperm cells, leading to male fertility alterations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if both fluoxetine and sertraline could affect the rat epididymis contraction, altering the sperm transit and/or sperm count trough rat epididymis. In vitro effects of fluoxetine and sertraline (1, 3 and 10 μM) were evaluated in isolated distal cauda epididymis of rats by pharmacological experiments. The effects of long-term treatment with fluoxetine and sertraline (20 mg/kg, i.p., 21 days) were also checked on distal cauda epididymis contractions, serum testosterone levels, sperm production, sperm reserves and sperm transit time trough rat epididymis. In vitro fluoxetine and sertraline (>3 μM) impaired the contractions induced by KCl, phenylephrine or carbachol although fluoxetine 1 μM potentiate the phenylephrine-induced contractions. Long-term in vivo treatment with fluoxetine and sertraline promoted: (a) an enhancement of rat distal cauda spontaneous contractions; (b) a potentiation of phenylephrine-induced contractions; (c) a decreased in serum testosterone levels; and (d) a diminished daily sperm production, sperm reserves trough epididymis and sperm transit time in rat cauda epididymis. In conclusion, the alteration in the motor activity of epididymis could be associated to the low sperm count in this organ and accelerated transit time trough epididymal cauda of rats.

Spermatozoa Quality of Young Male White Rat after Treated with Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract

Spermatogenesis is the process of spermatozoa formation from primitive germinativum cells. There are Leydig (interstitial) cells outside the seminiferous tubules that secrete testosterone hormone into the blood. The quality of spermatozoa is largely determined by the nutrients consumed during the growth period. Moringa leaves contain lots of nutrients, therefore it is often used to improve malnutrition in children. The specific purpose of this study was to determine the quality of spermatozoa of young male rats after treated with Moringa leaf extracts. This study used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and divided into 4 groups of treatment consisted of 10 young male white rats i.e. control group (K0), treatment group 1 (K1) treated with dose 50 mg/kg, group 2 (K2) treated with dose 75 mg/kg, group 3 (K3) treated with dose 100 mg/kg of Moringa leaf extracts. Parameters observed were sperm quality (sperm count, motility, viability and morphology). The result of this research showed that the treatment of Moringa leaf extracts in the growth period could increase spermatozoa quality at dose 50 and 75 mg/kg body weight (bw significantly. Moringa leaf extracts at dose 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) could decrease spermatozoa quality significantly (p<0.005). The result proved that the higher doses of Moringa leaf extracts given to young male rats could decrease the quality of spermatozoa.

The dynamics of gene expression during and post meiosis sets the sperm agenda.

Meiosis is the defining event of spermatogenesis. Spermatocytes undergo meiosis to give rise to round spermatids, which in turn metamorphose to flagellated spermatozoa that mature in the epididymis. To characterize the dynamics of gene expression during these important stages of spermatogenesis, we undertook transcriptome analysis in >90% pure pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, and pure mature sperm of rat by massive parallel deep sequencing. The study has identified 10,719 total transcripts expressed in meiotic and postmeiotic cells, out of which 7,641 were present in all the three cell types. Most abundant transcripts were related to gametogenesis in spermatocytes and spermatids, and mitochondrial energy metabolism in sperm. Importantly, 108 transcripts were specific to spermatocytes, including Cpeb2, Dpf3, H2afy, Haus7, Plcb1, Taf9, and Tdrd7 strongly linked with meiosis. Similarly, 323 transcripts unique to round spermatids included Arpc5, Apoa1, Cntrob, Dcaf17, Ift88, and Ly6k that play essential roles in spermiogenesis. Likewise, 178 transcripts unique to sperm included Camta1, Hoxb1, and Prdx6 having assigned roles in fertility and/or embryonic development. Levels of ~16% transcripts declined from spermatocytes to sperm while two (Cd300e and Ddx17) increased. New candidate genes with possible roles in meiosis (91), spermiogenesis (298), and sperm function (171), have been identified. This study has provided new potential targets for contraception and/or treatment of male infertility. (CDRI communication number 9889).

Vitamin D3 treatment regulates apoptosis, antioxidant defense system, and DNA integrity in the epididymal sperm of an aged rat model.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 in the epididymal sperm cells of D-gal-induced aged rats. It is well known that during aging sperm quality and quantity declines and leads to age-related infertility problems in males. The results of the present study showed that there were elevated levels of oxidative stress and poor DNA integrity of sperm of aged rats. The expression of BCL2 also showed a significant decline in the sperm of aged rats, however, the expression of BAX and active caspase-3 did not show significant change compared with the control group. The treatment of vitamin D3 at lower doses to aged rats showed increased expression of BAX and active caspase-3 in the sperm, this finding suggests that increased apoptosis may be responsible for removal of poor quality sperm during aging. Vitamin D3 treatment at both doses showed improvement in the oxidative stress and DNA integrity in the sperm of aged rats. We also investigated the expression of AGER, visfatin, and HSPA1A in the epididymal sperm. It has been found that expression of AGER, visfatin, and HSPA1A increased in the sperm aged rats and vitamin D3 treatments at both doses decreased its expression. Thus, it might be suggested that during aging vitamin D3 treatment would be important for managing the sperm quality by regulating the apoptosis, antioxidant system and DNA integrity via modulation of visfatin and HSPA1A.

Protective effects of zinc on rat sperm chromatin integrity involvement: DNA methylation, DNA fragmentation, ubiquitination and protamination after bleomycin etoposide and cis-platin treatment

Testicular cancer is one of the most common malignancy in young men, chemotherapy induced damage in cancerous cells as well as healthy tissue, and we decided to investigate recovery effect of zinc (Zn) on chemotherapy-induced complications in rat chromatin integrity and testicular histomorphometry. The male rats (n = 40) were treated with BEP at appropriate dose levels of BEP (0.75, 7.5, and 1.5 mg/kg) for 9 weeks, with or without Zn; testicular histology, sperm DNA methylation, ubiquitination, DNA fragmentation and protamination were further assessed through immunofluorescence. BEP treatment significantly increased ubiquitination, and DNA fragmentation, considerably reducing global DNA methylation and protamination (P < 0.001), resulting in degenerative changes in testicular structure. Zn restored normal DNA methylation, protamination and structure of male gonads, maintained spermatogonial stem cells, and significantly reduced the mean percentage of ubiquitination and sperm DNA fragmentation as compared with BEP group (P < 0.001). We found that supplementation of Zn following chemotherapy can improve chromatin integrity, testicular organization and spermatogenesis.

Effects of co-administered melatonin, fructose and bisphenol A (BPA) on rat epididymis and sperm characteristics

ABSTRACTConsumption of fructose-rich food and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals continue to increase. High fructose consumption is associated with increased incidence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia and insulin resistance. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental contaminant that exhibits estrogen-like activity; it impairs reproductive organs, sperm production, spermatogenesis and fertility. We investigated the possible ameliorative effects of melatonin on rat epididymis and sperm characteristics following exposure to fructose and BPA. We used 42 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into seven groups. Group 1, control group, was treated with 25 mg/kg sesame oil + 25 mg/kg 0.1% ethanol. Group 2 was treated with 10% aqueous fructose. Group 3 was treated with 25 mg/kg BPA. Group 4 was treated with 10% fructose and 25 mg/kg BPA. Group 5 was treated with 10% fructose and 20 mg/kg melatonin. Group 6 was treated with 25 mg/kg BPA and 20 mg/kg melatonin. Group 7 was treated with 10% fructose, 25 mg/kg BPA and 20 mg/kg melatonin. After 60 days, epididymal tissue was removed and analyzed using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Sperm were counted, and sperm motility and viability were investigated. Administration of BPA caused significant damage to both epididymal tissue and sperm quality; melatonin reduced the damage, but did not prevent it completely.

Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ferollago angulata on Sperm and Testosterone Indices in Male Rats

Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ferollago angulata on Sperm and Testosterone Indices in Male Rats

Comparison of polymerization and structural behavior of microtubules in rat brain and sperm affected by the extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field

BackgroundMicrotubule proteins are able to produce electromagnetic fields and have an important role in memory formation, and learning. Therefore, microtubules have the potential to be affected by exogenous electromagnetic fields. This study aimed to examine the comparison of microtubule polymerization and its structural behavior in brain and sperm affected by 50 Hz extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELEF).ResultsTwenties adult male rats were randomly and equally divided into control and experimental groups, to evaluate the effect of 50 Hz ELEF on the sperm and brain functions. Plus-maze, serum testosterone and corticosterone, and sperm evaluation were performed. Next, the semen and brain samples were obtained, and they were divided into four experimental groups for investigation of microtubule polymerization. There was no significant difference in testosterone and, corticosterone levels, anxiety behaviors, and sperm morphology between control and ELEF-exposure groups. The sperm viability, total and progressive motility were significantly higher in the ELEF-exposed group than that of the control group. The microtubule polymerization in sperm ELEF was significantly higher than in other groups. The secondary and tertiary structures of tubulins were significantly affected in the brain, and sperm ELEF groups.ConclusionIt seems that the polymerization of microtubules and conformational changes of tubulin dimers are improved by ELEF application.

Cannabis use is associated with potentially heritable widespread changes in autism candidate gene DLGAP2 DNA methylation in sperm

ABSTRACTParental cannabis use has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, but how such phenotypes are transmitted is largely unknown. Using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS), we recently demonstrated that cannabis use is associated with widespread DNA methylation changes in human and rat sperm. Discs-Large Associated Protein 2 (DLGAP2), involved in synapse organization, neuronal signaling, and strongly implicated in autism, exhibited significant hypomethylation (p < 0.05) at 17 CpG sites in human sperm. We successfully validated the differential methylation present in DLGAP2 for nine CpG sites located in intron seven (p < 0.05) using quantitative bisulphite pyrosequencing. Intron 7 DNA methylation and DLGAP2 expression in human conceptal brain tissue were inversely correlated (p < 0.01). Adult male rats exposed to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) showed differential DNA methylation at Dlgap2 in sperm (p < 0.03), as did the nucleus accumbens of rats whose fathers were exposed to THC prior to conception (p < 0.05). Altogether, these results warrant further investigation into the effects of preconception cannabis use in males and the potential effects on subsequent generations.

Rapid and efficient production of genome-edited animals by electroporation into oocytes injected with frozen or freeze-dried sperm

Sperm preservation is a useful technique for maintaining valuable animal strains. Rat sperm could be frozen or freeze-dried in a simple Tris-EDTA solution (TE buffer), and oocytes that were fertilized with these sperm by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) developed into offspring. Genome editing with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system enables the rapid production of genetically modified rats. The recent innovative method, named the TAKE method, could easily produce genome edited rats by electroporation of endonucleases into embryos. Although various rat strains have been applied for genome editing, genome editing using strains that were preserved as sperm took longer because it required collecting embryos after maturation of animals regenerated from sperm. To reduce the production period, we directly electroporated Cas9 protein and gRNA into oocytes that were injected with frozen or freeze-dried sperm in TE buffer. No effect of electroporation until 30 V to ICSI-embryos derived from frozen or freeze-dried sperm were shown in the development of offspring. Furthermore, the rate of genome editing in offspring was high (56% for frozen and 50% for freeze-dried sperm). These results concluded that the combination of ICSI and the TAKE method was useful for the rapid production of genome-edited animals from sperm that have been preserved as genetic resources.

A new Thiocyanoacetamide protects rat sperm cells from Doxorubicin-triggered cytotoxicity whereas Selenium shows low efficacy: In vitro approach

Doxorubicin (DOX) exhibits a wide-ranging spectrum of antitumor activities which maintain its clinical use despite its devastating impact on highly proliferating cells. The present work was designed to develop a new approach which aims to protect male germ cells from DOX cytotoxicity. Thus, an assessment of the protective potential of a new thioamide analog (thiocyanoacetamide; TA) compared to selenium (Se) was performed in rat sperms exposed to DOX in vitro. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was measured after exposure to three different doses (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 μM) of DOX, Se or TA, and the suitable concentrations were selected for further studies afterwards. Motility, OCR in a time-dependent manner, glucose extracellular concentration and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured. Fatty acid (FA) content was assessed by gas chromatography (GC-FID). Cell death, superoxide anion (O2−), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and DNA damage were evaluated by flow cytometry. TA association with DOX increased OCR and glucose uptake, improved cell survival and decreased DNA damage. The co-administration of DOX with Se increased OCR, significantly prevented O2− overproduction, and decreased LPO. Collected data brought new insights regarding this transformed TA, which showed better efficiency than Se in reducing DOX cytotoxic stress in sperms.

THE EFFECTS OF NICOTINE EXPOSURE PER INHALATION TO THE CHANGE OF MOTILITY AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE RAT’S SPERM

Objective: Smoking are known to have detrimental effect on sperm. The effects are suspiciously come from nicotine as its main pharmacologic component. This study is carried out to analyze the effect of nicotine exposure per inhalation to the difference of motile sperm percentage and normal morphology sperm percentage of male wistar rats. Material &amp; Methods: Thirty male rats were used for this research. They were randomly divided into 5 groups and treated with nicotine inhalation 0.5 mg/kgBW, 1 mg/kgBW, 2 mg/kgBW and 4 mg/kgBW for 30 days while the control rats were not given any treatment. At the end of experiment, sperm analysis was carried out to measure the percentage of motile sperm and percentage of sperm with normal morphology. Results: Percentage of motile sperm significantly decreased (p&lt;0.05) in all treatment groups compared to control group. Comparison between treatment groups revealed that the percentage of motile sperm significantly decreased in 0.5 mg/kgBW vs 2 mg/kgBW, 0.5 mg/kgBW vs 4 mg/kgBW, and 1 mg/kgBW vs 4 mg/kgBW. Percentage of normal morphology sperm decreased significantly (p&lt;0.05) in 1 mg/kgBW, 2 mg/kgBW, and 4 mg/kgBW compared to control groups. Comparison between treatment groups revealed that there were no significant decreased between each treatment groups. Conclusion: This research conclude that nicotine exposure per inhalation can deteriorate the percentage of motile sperm and the percentage of normal morphology sperm of male wistar rats.

The effect of black cumin (Nigella sativa) extract on spermatozoa morphology of male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) after induced with 2-Methoxyethanol

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 2-ME and administration of black cumin extract on sperm motility of male white rats. The research method used a completely randomized design (CRD) of 24 male white rats. The 2-ME solution is given intraperitoneally, and black cumin extract is given orally. The samples were divided into 6 groups, treatment given for 21 days. Data analysis used One Way ANOVA and continued with Duncan’s test. The results, after induced 2-ME spermatozoa morphology mean as much as 31.25%, after being given average black cumin extract spermatozoa morphology of 89.75%, after administration of 2-ME and black cumin extract dose of 1.2 g/kgBW average morphology of spermatozoa 35.75%, the dose of 2.4 g/kgBW mean morphology of spermatozoa was 47.00%, while the dose of 3.6 g/kgBW resulted in an increase in morphology of spermatozoa by 57.25%. Conclusion, 2-ME induction can reduce the morphology of male white rat spermatozoa. While the administration of black cumin extract can improve the morphology of male white rat spermatozoa. The administration of black cumin extract at a dose of 3.6 g/kgBW after 2-ME induced can improve the morphology of the sperm and is significantly different.

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Testis and Sperm of Rat Following Induced Varicocele.

Oxidative stress (OS) plays a central role in the pathophysiology of varicocele (VC), however, com-prehensive studies concomitantly assessing semen parameter along with chromatin status, oxidative stress, and enzymatic antioxidants in both testis and sperm are limited. Therefore, this study aims to assess these parameters in varicocelized rats. For this study, 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control group (I); sham-operated group (II) and left varicocele group (III). Left varicocele was induced and two months after surgery, we evaluated sperm parameters, persistent histone, DNA integrity and lipid peroxidation in sperm and also oxidant/antioxidant markers in testis. The results showed that sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology significantly decreased in varicocele group compared to other groups (P < 0.001). Also, we observed a significant increase in persistent histone and DNA damage of sperm cells in varicocele rats (P < 0.05). In addition, oxidant assessment analysis showed that ROS level was higher in testis tissue and sperm cells from the left varicocele rats compared to the control group (P < 0.05). This results show that varicocele has a negative effect on spermatogenesis and increased oxidative stress and reduce in antioxidant capacity hand in hand lead to the production of sperm with damaged chromatin which reduces the fertility potential and may jeopardize the future health of the progeny.

Combined effects of arsenic exposure and diabetes on male reproductive functions.

It is known that exposure to either arsenic or hyperglycemia can induce male reproductive damages. However, their combined effects on male reproductive organs are still unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated morphological and functional parameters of the testis, epididymis, and spermatozoa in diabetic rats exposed to arsenate. Diabetes was induced in male rats by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. While a set of healthy and diabetic animals received saline solution (negative control and diabetes control, respectively), the other set received 10mg/L sodium arsenate (arsenic control and diabetes + arsenic groups, respectively) for 40days in drinking water. Testosterone concentration, daily sperm production, sperm counts in the testis and epididymis, and sperm parameters were evaluated in the groups. Moreover, testis and epididymis were subjected to antioxidant enzymes analysis, micromineral determination, and histopathological evaluation. Arsenate exposure reduced serum testosterone concentration in healthy animals and worsened this reduction in diabetic rats. In addition, the number of spermatozoa in testis and epididymis tissues, as well as the daily sperm production, was decreased in these groups. Sperm parameters such as motility, morphology, and integrity of acrosomal and plasma membranes were impaired in health animals exposed to arsenate. The combination of diabetes and arsenate, in turn, increased only the percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology. Moreover, the proportion of arsenic increased in the testis and epididymis of both groups receiving arsenate. Its bioaccumulation in these organs caused an imbalance in antioxidant enzymes activities and mineral content in healthy animals, enhancing these changes in diabetic rats. Testicular pathologies occurred mainly in animals co-exposed to diabetes and arsenate. Our results indicate that arsenate exposure enhances several damages to male reproductive functions in diabetic rats, mainly by impairing testosterone levels and inducing nitrosative stress in testis and epididymis.

Mass spectrometry data of diabetic rat sperm proteome treated with Gynura procumbens aqueous extract

Diabetes mellitus has a deleterious effect on the male reproductive system, especially on sperm quality and spermatogenesis. Gynura procumbens (G. procumbens) is a traditional herb known for its ability to improve the fertility of diabetes-induced male rats. This study was designed to identify the differential expression of sperm proteins after treatment with G. procumbens aqueous extract on diabetes-induced male rats. The sperm proteome was profiled using label-free shotgun proteomics analysis. Sprague Dawley rats used in this study were divided randomly into four groups. One group was a normal control group (healthy rats), while the three other groups were induced with 50 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) of streptozotocin (STZ) to emulate the diabetic condition. The diabetic rats were divided into negative control (non-treated diabetic), metformin-treated (positive control) and G. procumbens aqueous extract-treated (450 mg/kg BW) groups. Oral treatments were administered for 14 consecutive days before the rats were euthanized. Total sperm protein samples were extracted from the caudal epididymis and run through SDS-PAGE. Later, samples were digested using trypsin before liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Thermo Orbitrap Fusion) analysis. The acquired data were processed using MaxQuant and Perseus software. The mass spectrometry proteomics data is available through ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository, with the dataset identifier PXD011373.

Impact of diabetes on male sexual function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: Protective role of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor

Diabetes-induced male sexual dysfunction is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is known to improve endothelial function in diabetes. Therefore, we hypothesized that sEH inhibitor (sEHI), [trans-4-{4-[3-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-ureido]cyclohexyloxy}benzoic acid] / t-TUCB can restore the male sexual function in diabetic rat. After one week of administration of diabetogenic agent STZ (52 mg/kg i.p) injection, diabetic rats were treated with t-TUCB (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg, p.o) or vehicle for 8 weeks. The sexual behaviour parameters of the animals were evaluated at the end of dosing period. The levels of testosterone and glucose in serum, and sperm were quantified. Effect of treatment on weight of reproductive organs and histopathology of penile tissue was evaluated. Diabetes had a negative effect on male sexual function, weight of sexual organs and production of sperm with a parallel decrease in the level of testosterone. The sEHI, t-TUCB, significantly preserved the sexual function and minimized an increase in the level of blood glucose in diabetic rats. It also prevented a decrease in the level of testosterone and sperm in diabetic rats, in comparison to diabetic control rats. Further, diabetes induced distortion of corpus cavernosum was attenuated by t-TUCB. Based on our findings, sEHI may delay the development of sexual dysfunction in diabetes.