1. Comparison of the effects of mesquite pod and Leucaena extracts with phytoestrogens on the reproductive physiology and sexual behavior in the male rat
- Author
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Socorro Retana-Márquez, G. López, Philippe Chemineau, A. Guerrero-Aguilera, L. Miranda, Alfonso Buendía Hernández, F. Solano, Matthieu Keller, Lizbeth Juárez-Rojas, J.A. Delgadillo, Carlos A. Romero, E. Hernández, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa (UAMI), Colegio de Posgraduados, Instituto Universitario del Centro de Mexico (INICIO), Physiologie de la reproduction et des comportements [Nouzilly] (PRC), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur]-Université de Tours-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro (UAAAN), SEP-PROMEP, grant number 1035-09-1247, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Tours-Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur]-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, and Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur]-Université de Tours (UT)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Time Factors ,sperm quality ,Sexual Behavior, Animal ,Mesquite pod ,Behavioral Neuroscience ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Leucaena ,Prosopis ,Testis ,Mimosine ,Testosterone ,phytoestrogens ,Leucaena leucocephala ,biology ,Reproduction ,apoptosis ,Isoflavones ,Genistein ,Spermatozoa ,[SDV.OT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Other [q-bio.OT] ,endocrine system ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,Andrology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Internal medicine ,In Situ Nick-End Labeling ,medicine ,Animals ,Rats, Wistar ,Analysis of Variance ,male sexual behavior ,Testicular atrophy ,Plant Extracts ,urogenital system ,Body Weight ,Daidzein ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Rats ,030104 developmental biology ,Endocrinology ,chemistry ,testosterone ,Phytoestrogens - Abstract
Mesquite (Prosopis sp) and Leucaena leucocephala are widespread legumes, widely used to feed several livestock species and as food source for human populations in several countries. Both mesquite and Leucaena contain several phytoestrogens which might have potential estrogenic effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of mesquite pod and Leucaena extracts on several aspects of behavior and reproductive physiology of the male rat. The effects of the extracts were compared with those of estradiol (E2) and of two isoflavones: daidzein (DAI) and genistein (GEN). The following treatments were given to groups of intact male rats: vehicle; mesquite pod extract; Leucaena extract; E2; DAI; GEN. The results indicate that mesquite pod and Leucaena extracts disrupt male sexual behavior in a similar way to DAI and GEN, but less than E2. The main disruptor of sexual behavior was E2, however after 40 and 50 days of administration, both extracts and phytoestrogens disrupted sexual behavior in a similar way to E2. The extracts also increased testicular germ cell apoptosis, decreased sperm quality, testicular weight, and testosterone levels, as phytoestrogens did, although these effects were less than those caused by estradiol. The number of seminiferous tubules with TUNEL-positive germ cells increased in extracts treated groups in a similar way to phytoestrogens groups, and E2 caused the greatest effect. The number of TUNEL-positive cells per tubule increased only in leucaena extract and E2 groups, but not in mesquite- and phytoestrogens- treated groups. Spermatocytes and round spermatids were the TUNEL-positive cells observed in all experimental groups. This effect was associated with smaller testicular weights without atrophy in experimental groups compared with control. Testicular atrophy was only observed in estradiol-treated males. Testosterone decreased in males of all experimental groups, compared with control, this androgen was undetectable in E2 treated males. These results suggest that mesquite pod and Leucaena extracts cause effects similar to those of phytoestrogens in male rat reproduction, these effects were lower than those caused by E2.
- Published
- 2016