scholarly journals Curcumin Protects the Seminal Vesicles from Metronidazole‑induced Reduction of Secretion in Mice

2012 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Noorafshan ◽  
Saied Karbalay‑Doust

Seminal vesicle secretion is important for increasing the stability of sperm chromatin, inhibition of the immune activity in the female reproductive tract and so on. Metronidazole (MTZ), a drug used for treatment of infections caused by anaerobic bacteria and protozoa, may have negative effects on the genital gland including the seminal vesicles. Curcumin exhibits antioxidant as well as anti‑inflammatory properties. The present study aims to evaluate the negative effects of MTZ on the seminal vesicle structure and ameliorative effects of curcumin using stereological methods. Thirty balb/c mice were divided into six groups. The control group was received distilled water. The second and the third received higher doses of MTZ (500 mg/kg body weight/day) and MTZ (500 mg/kg/day) + 100 mg/kg/day curcumin, respectively. The fourth and the fifth were treated with lower doses of MTZ (165 mg/kg body weight/day) and MTZ (165 mg/kg body weight/day) + curcumin (100 mg/kg body weight/day), respectively. The sixth group received 100 mg/kg body weight/day curcumin. All the administrations were done by oral gavages for 14 days. After 30 days, seminal vesicles were removed. Stereological study of the seminal vesicle structure revealed a significant reduction in gland and vesicular fluid volume in MTZ‑treated (higher or lower doses) animals. Curcumin protected the reduction of both parameters in therapeutic‑dose treated animals. Metronidazole treatment does not induce structural changes in the seminal gland; however, it can have a significant impact on its secretion ability. Importantly, these deteriorations might be preventable by curcumin co‑treatment.

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Skerrett-Byrne ◽  
Brett Nixon ◽  
Elizabeth G. Bromfield ◽  
James Breen ◽  
Natalie A. Trigg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The seminal vesicles synthesise bioactive factors that support gamete function, modulate the female reproductive tract to promote implantation, and influence developmental programming of offspring phenotype. Despite the significance of the seminal vesicles in reproduction, their biology remains poorly defined. Here, to advance understanding of seminal vesicle biology, we analyse the mouse seminal vesicle transcriptome under normal physiological conditions and in response to acute exposure to the reproductive toxicant acrylamide. Mice were administered acrylamide (25 mg/kg bw/day) or vehicle control daily for five consecutive days prior to collecting seminal vesicle tissue 72 h following the final injection. Results A total of 15,304 genes were identified in the seminal vesicles with those encoding secreted proteins amongst the most abundant. In addition to reproductive hormone pathways, functional annotation of the seminal vesicle transcriptome identified cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and cellular death and survival pathways as prominent biological processes. Administration of acrylamide elicited 70 differentially regulated (fold-change ≥1.5 or ≤ 0.67) genes, several of which were orthogonally validated using quantitative PCR. Pathways that initiate gene and protein synthesis to promote cellular survival were prominent amongst the dysregulated pathways. Inflammation was also a key transcriptomic response to acrylamide, with the cytokine, Colony stimulating factor 2 (Csf2) identified as a top-ranked upstream driver and inflammatory mediator associated with recovery of homeostasis. Early growth response (Egr1), C-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (Ccl8), and Collagen, type V, alpha 1 (Col5a1) were also identified amongst the dysregulated genes. Additionally, acrylamide treatment led to subtle changes in the expression of genes that encode proteins secreted by the seminal vesicle, including the complement regulator, Complement factor b (Cfb). Conclusions These data add to emerging evidence demonstrating that the seminal vesicles, like other male reproductive tract tissues, are sensitive to environmental insults, and respond in a manner with potential to exert impact on fetal development and later offspring health.


Reproduction ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoya Araki ◽  
Natsuko Kawano ◽  
Woojin Kang ◽  
Kenji Miyado ◽  
Kaoru Yoshida ◽  
...  

Mammalian spermatozoa acquire their fertilizing ability in the female reproductive tract (sperm capacitation). On the other hand, seminal vesicle secretion, which is a major component of seminal plasma, inhibits the initiation of sperm capacitation (capacitation inhibition) and reduces the fertility of the capacitated spermatozoa (decapacitation). There are seven major proteins involved in murine seminal vesicle secretion (SVS1-7), and we have previously shown that SVS2 acts as both a capacitation inhibitor and a decapacitation factor, and is indispensable forin vivofertilization. However, the effects of SVSs other than SVS2 on the sperm have not been elucidated. Since mouseSvs2–Svs6genes evolved by gene duplication belong to the same gene family, it is possible that SVSs other than SVS2 also have some effects on sperm capacitation. In this study, we examined the effects of SVS3 and SVS4 on sperm capacitation. Our results showed that both SVS3 and SVS4 are able to bind to spermatozoa, but SVS3 alone showed no effects on sperm capacitation. On the other hand, SVS4 acted as a capacitation inhibitor, although it did not show decapacitation abilities. Interestingly, SVS3 showed an affinity for SVS2 and it facilitated the effects of SVS2. Interaction of SVS2 and spermatozoa is mediated by the ganglioside GM1 in the sperm membrane; however, both SVS3 and SVS4 had weaker affinities for GM1 than SVS2. Therefore, we suggest that separate processes may cause capacitation inhibition and decapacitation, and SVS3 and SVS4 act on sperm capacitation cooperatively with SVS2.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oyovwi Mega Obukohwo ◽  
Nwangwa Eze Kingsley ◽  
Rotu Arientare Rume ◽  
Emojevwe Victor

The human reproductive system is made up of the primary and secondary organs, which helps to enhances reproduction. The male reproductive system is designed to produce male gametes and convey them to the female reproductive tract through the use of supportive fluids and testosterone synthesis. The paired testis (site of testosterone and sperm generation), scrotum (compartment for testis localisation), epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, bulbourethral gland, ejaculatory duct, urethra, and penis are the parts of the male reproductive system. The auxiliary organs aid in the maturation and transportation of sperm. Semen is made up of sperm and the secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands (the ejaculate). Ejaculate is delivered to the female reproduc¬tive tract by the penis and urethra. The anatomy, embryology and functions of the male reproductive system are discussed in this chapter.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 190 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.K. Gardner ◽  
K.S. Stilley ◽  
M. Lane

Ammonium is known to adversely affect the development of mouse embryos in culture. Specifically, ammonium has been found to impair inner cell (ICM) mass formation, increase apoptosis, retard fetal development following embryo transfer and induce exencephaly. Significantly, high protein diets in cattle lead to reduced fecundity. This has been linked to elevated urea levels within fluid of the female tract. In this study we have determined the effects of a high protein diet for mice on the levels of ammonium within the female tract and the effects of such a diet on the development and viability of blastocysts developed in vivo. Outbred mice (CF1) were fed a diet of either 25% (high protein) or 14% (control) protein for 4 weeks. Females were superovulated and mated to males of the same strain. In 24 mice, oviduct fluid was collected at 22h post hCG. Ammonium in the oviduct fluid was then quantitated fluorometrically. From other animals, blastocysts were flushed 92h post hCG and analyzed. Blastocyst differentiation and apoptotic indices were determined. Values are mean±SEM. Data were analysed using Student’s t-test. The levels of ammonium in the oviduct were significantly higher (P<0.01) in females fed the high protein diet (356±43μM) compared to the control (68±13μM) (n=12 in each group). Blastocysts (n=139) from females fed the high protein diet had significantly lower total (43.4±1.1; P<0.05) and ICM cell numbers (12.7±0.4; P<0.01), compared to the control group (46.8±0.9 and 15.4±0.4 respectively; n=124). Furthermore, blastocysts from animals fed a high protein diet had a significantly higher apoptotic index (8.7±1.4; P<0.01) compared to the control group (2.0±0.5). These data show that consumption of a high protein diet results in the excess accumulation of ammonium in the fluid of the female reproductive tract of mice. These high levels of ammonium subsequently impair the formation of the fetal progenitor cells and increase cell death at the blastocyst stage. These data from in vivo-developed mouse blastocysts are similar to those for blastocysts developed in culture in the presence of 300μM ammonium. Therefore, it is not advisable to maintain mice on a high protein diet. These data have significant implications for animal breeding, and for patients attempting IVF treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (95) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
M. I. Zhyla ◽  
I. P. Patereha ◽  
E. Tomaszewska ◽  
S. Muszynski ◽  
P. Dobrowolski ◽  
...  

The article presents the study results of the acute and subacute toxicity of the veterinary drug “Tylmozyn 25” (solution for oral administration) based on tilmicosin. Intra-gastric administration of “Tylmozyn 25” to white mice at a dose of 25000 mg/kg of body weight caused the death of 100% of the animals, a dose of 15000 mg/kg of body weight caused the death of 66% of the white mice. The average time of death was 2 and 5 hours correspondingly. While determining the toxicity of “Tylmozyn 25” in white rats, we did not spot the death of any studied animal at any administered dose (5000, 15000, 25000 mg/kg of body weight). Based on the result of our study, we conclude that the veterinary drug Tylmozyn 25 belongs to the fourth of toxicity class – low toxic substances. LD50 of Tylmozyn 25 in white mice is 14167 mg/kg, while in white rats LD50 is higher than 25000 mg/kg. Testing on white rats intra-gastric drug “Tylmozyn 25” during for 14 days, both in therapeutic (80 mg/kg of body weight) and 10-fold doses (800 mg/kg of body weight) did not cause animal death, but caused a decrease in body weight, a significant decrease in the coefficients of weight of the liver and spleen and a tendency to increase the coefficients of weight of the heart and lungs compared with the animals of the control group. Animals which got the drug at a dose of 800 mg/kg of body weight showed erythrocytosis, leukopenia, increased enzymatic activity of AST, ALT, and LDH, the content of total protein against to decrease urea and creatinine, which may indicate impaired liver, kidney function and hematopoietic organs. The macroscopic and microscopic structure of the internal organs of the experimental rats is preserved. Rats receiving a tenfold therapeutic dose of the drug for 14 days, histologically revealed the most granular protein dystrophy in the liver and kidneys, which was manifested by discomplexation of the lamellae, presence of hepatocytes with uneven granular cytoplasm, slightly colored cytoplasm, hypertrophied nuclei, renal convoluted tubules and narrowing of their lumen, compaction of the mesh of the renal corpuscle. In the myocardium, the branching, swelling of the muscle fibers, swelling of the stroma with cell infiltrates, mainly of the lympho-histiocytic series, was observed, which indicated the development of serosa myocarditis. Structural changes in the liver, kidneys and heart were confirmed by biochemical parameters of the enzymatic activity of the serum of rats of this group.


Hypertension ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia I García ◽  
Ludmila S Peres Diaz ◽  
Maia Aisicovich ◽  
Mariano L Schuman ◽  
María S Landa

Cardiac TRH (cTRH) is overexpressed in the hypertrophied ventricle (LV) of the SHR. Additionally in vivo siRNA-TRH treatment induced downregulation of LV-TRH preventing cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis demonstrating that TRH is involved in hypertrophic and fibrotic processes. Moreover, in a normal heart, the increase of LV TRH expression alone could induce structural changes where fibrosis and hypertrophy could be involved, independently of any other system alterations. Is well-known the cardiac hypertrophy/ fibrotic effects induced by AII, raising the question of whether specific LV cTRH inhibition might attenuates AII induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice. We challenged C57 mice with AII (osmotic pumps,14 days; 2 mg/kg) to induce cardiac hypertrophy vs saline. Groups were divided and , simultaneously to pump surgery, injected intracardiac with siRNA-TRH and siRNA-Con as its control. Body weight, water consume and SABP were measured daily. As expected, AII significantly increased SABP (p<0.05) in both groups treated , although cardiac hypertrophy (heart weight/body weight) was only evident in the group with the cardiac TRH system undamaged, suggesting that the cardiac TRH system function as a necessary mediator of the AII-induced hypertrophic effect. As hypothesized, we found an AII-induced increase of TRH (p<0.05) gene expression (real-t PCR) confirmed by immunofluorescence that was not observed in the group AII+siRNA-TRH demonstrating the specific siRNA treatment efficiency. Furthermore, AII significantly increase (p<0.05) BNP (hypertrophic marker), III collagen and TGFB (fibrosis markers) expressions only in the group with AII with the cardiac TRH system intact. On the contrary, the group with AII and the cTRH system inhibited, shows genes expressions similar to the saline control group. We confirmed these results by immunofluorescence. Similar fibrotic results were observed with NIH3T3 cell culture where we demonstrated that AII induced TRH gene expression (p<0.05) and its inhibition impedes AII-induced increase of TGFB and III/I collagens expressions telling us about the role of the cTRH in the AII fibrosis effects. Our results point out that the cardiac TRH is involved in the AII-induced hypertrophic and fibrotic effects.


2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Stajkovic ◽  
Suncica Borozan ◽  
Gordana Gadjanski-Omerovic

This study was designed to investigate the effects of toluene treatment on oxidative stress in rat blood. Since toluene metabolism produces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, it was hypothesized that the toluene treatment would: 1) provoke changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, 2) impair the integrity of the cell membrane and 3) induce structural changes in the plasma proteins. Female Wistar rats were treated with toluene intraperitonally, at a daily dose of 0.38 mmol/kg body weight for 12 days, and 5 mmol/kg body weight for 6 days, respectively, with propylene glycol as the carrier. Toluene significantly increased superoxide dismutase activity at low doses, catalase activity at high doses and the level of erythrocytes malondialdehyde in both treated groups when compared to the control group. The nitrite ( ? 2 NO ) level in both treated groups was not different from that in the control animals. Toluene caused oxidative modification of plasma proteins and, consequently, changes in the concentration of glycoproteins and lipoproteins when compared to the control group. The observed alterations indicate that toluene treatment might be involved in free radical processes.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 235
Author(s):  
Miroslava Anna Šefcová ◽  
Marco Larrea-Álvarez ◽  
César Marcelo Larrea-Álvarez ◽  
Viera Karaffová ◽  
David Ortega-Paredes ◽  
...  

This research was conducted to investigate if the administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum could influence body weight, intestinal morphometry and the cecal cytokine response in Campylobacter jejuni-infected chickens. Seventy-two 1-day old COBB 500 male chicks were allocated randomly into four experimental groups. (I) Control group (C), in which chicks were left untreated. (II) LB group, treated with L. fermentum. (III) Cj group, infected with C. jejuni and (IV) coexposure group in which both bacteria were administered. Body weight was registered and then all birds were slaughtered; samples from the small intestine and caecum were collected at 4- and 7-days post infection. The experiment lasted eleven days. Villi height and crypt depth ratios of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were evaluated using appropriate software, while reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was utilized for assessing transcript levels of key cecal inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18, IL-17, IL-15, IL13 and IL-4). Campylobacter-infected birds showed lower body weight values than those supplemented with the probiotic; these birds, in turn, proved to be heavier than those reared under control conditions. L. fermentum administration improved morphometrical parameters of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum; in general, villi were larger and crypts deeper than those identified in control conditions. Moreover, the negative effects elicited by C. jejuni were not observed in chickens exposed to the probiotic. Significant differences were also determined with regards to transcript abundance of all evaluated cytokines in the caecum. C. jejuni induced a downregulation of the studied interleukins; however, such a response was heightened by administration of L. fermentum, with an increase rate of transcription that promoted a more effective response to a C. jejuni infection. The effects of experimental treatments proved to vary between sampling points. Conclusively, these results demonstrate that L. fermentum lessens the negative effects elicited by C. jejuni on body weight by alleviating the impact on intestinal morphometry and cecal cytokine response, which ultimately improve chicken growth performance.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
C. K. I. Deshmukh

The male albino rat, Rattus norvegicus maintained in the laboratory by supplying regularly food and water. Acid phos is a well known aphrodisiac drug from homeopathy medical system. Doses of 200 gm of 30 number globules made from sugar of milk and moistened by 15 mL of acid phos (H3PO3) of 6 potency. Group-I, II and III experimental rats were carried out for 15, 30, and 15 day recovery period respectively. Appreciable behavioral changes and changes in the body weights were noticed. In 15, 30 and in 15 days of recovery period, the acid phosphatase, SGOT and albumin were significant (P < 0.05) while alkaline phosphatase, SGPT, cholesterol, glucose, total proteins and globulin was found non-significant but A:G ratio was increasedsignificantly in 30 days of treatment. The weight of liver, kidney, and testis has found linear increased relationship with the body weight but significant (P < 0.050) increased in the weight of seminal vesicle and body weight in the experimental rat. Various histo-architectural changes were observed in the tissues of liver, kidney, testis and seminal vesicle. Both liver and kidney showed degenerative changes after 15 and 30 days .Tetraploid stages of liver pernchymal cells were predominant in the experimental rats while in 15 days of recovery period, both attained the recovery. In 30 days, the diameter of seminiferous tubules is markedly reduced, with thin unfolded mucosa. In 15 days of administration of acid phos, the intertubular spaces between the seminiferous tubule were also reduced. The number of spermatids was increased in recovery period, the testis showed the recovery. In 15 days of administration, the secretion in the lumen of seminal vesicles increased related with the structure of the epithelium of seminal vesicles while in 15 days of recovery period, the seminal vesicles showed recovery of secretory activities with pseudostratified epithelium. All the results are discussed detailed in paper.


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