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Contents The aim of the current study was to evaluate reproductive disorders concomitant with aluminium chloride (AlCl3) toxicity in Albino male rats. Attention was also directed to study the protective influence of ginger against this toxicity. Forty-five mature Albino Wistar male rats were equally divided into three groups; the first group was served as control group while those of the second group (AlCl3) were daily treated with 34 mg/kg bw. AlCl3 orally. The third group (AlCl3 + ginger) was treated daily with AlCl3 as in group 2 in combination with ginger (40 mg/kg bw), which started 2 weeks prior to AlCl3. Five animals from each group were sacrificed on days 30, 45 and 60 of treatment. AlCl3 administration significantly decreased serum testosterone levels, increased testicular homogenate malondialdehyde and deteriorated semen picture with increased testicular DNA fragmentation. Histopathological examination revealed degenerative changes of the seminiferous tubules with focal areas of necrosed spermatogenic cells, marked degeneration and desquamation of the lining epithelial cells of epididymis as well as multiple calcified material in prostate gland following 60 days of aluminium treatment. Ginger treatment started to improve significantly all studied parameters after 60 days as compared with AlCl3-treated group. In the current study, it was concluded that AlCl3 had a destructive effect on all the studied reproductive parameters. Treatment with ginger has an ameliorating effect against AlCl3 toxicity after 60 days post-treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementation of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) on the capacitation of bovine spermatozoa during the in vitro fertilization process. Hyperactivated motility (HAM) and acrosome reaction (AR) of sperm cells as well as in vitro fertilization and cleavage rates are the main parameters used to estimate the effect of CSNPs on bovine spermatozoa's fertilizing ability. In this study, three different concentrations of CSNPs (10, 20 and 100 μg/mL) were prepared and characterized. Motile spermatozoa were separated from frozen-thawed semen by a swim-up technique and capacitated in Sperm-TALP medium supplemented with heparin only without CSNPs treatment (positive control), heparin + 10 μg/mL CSNPs, heparin + 20 μg/mL CSNPs, heparin + 100 μg/mL CSNPs and the last one served as a negative control tube which supplemented with 10 μg/mL CSNPs without adding heparin. Sperm cells were incubated for 90 min at 39°C in a 5% CO 2 incubator and evaluated every 30 min at intervals. Cumulus oophorus complex (COCs) were matured in a 5% CO 2 incubator at 39°C and inseminated in vitro with frozen-thawed bull sperm of the above concentrations. The inseminated oocytes were incubated at 39°C in a 5% CO 2 incubator for 24 h and then examined for evidence of fertilization. The results of this investigation showed that HAM and AR were best affected by CSNPs at a concentration of 20 μg/mL during an incubation time of 60 min. As time went on, the overall proportion of spermatozoa with progressive motility (PM) decreased across all groups, and a substantially lower value was found at the dose mentioned above. Additionally, the impact of sperm treated with CSNPs on fertilization rate was assessed. The outcomes demonstrated that in comparison to the other concentrations (10 and 100 μg/mL), the positive control and the negative control, the proportion of fertilized oocytes was significantly higher in the CSNPs concentration (20 μg/mL). In conclusion, it could be inferred from this investigation that CSNPs support sperm functions during IVF and can be used for biomedical interventions in bovine spermatozoa. Additionally, a high IVF rate was achieved by using sperm treated with CSNPs as CSNPs enhance sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread compound associated with the manufacture of many consumer products. The BPA-induced reproductive toxicity was reported to be mainly attributed to oxidative stress. However, the role of antioxidants usage to decrease the injurious effects of BPA, on male reproductive functions, remains to unveil. The present research is established to evaluate the role of selenium (Se) and its nano form (NSe) as protective agents to alleviate BPA-induced testicular toxicity. Ninety mature albino male rats were assigned into six equal groups: negative control; orally BPA 150 mg/kg; Se 3 mg/kg; NSe 2 mg/kg; both BPA 150 mg/kg and Se 3 mg/kg; and BPA 150 mg/kg + NSe 2 mg/kg. The experiment lasted for 70 consecutive days, and then serum was collected for estimation of prostatic acid phosphatase. Testicular tissues were subjected to measurement of antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and expression of some apoptotic genes. Our results reported that BPA-induced marked testicular damage evidenced by significant elevations in serum prostatic acid phosphatase activity, malondialdehyde levels, a decrease in testicular catalase activity and reduced glutathione level. Moreover, marked DNA internucleosomal fragmentation pattern as well as upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and estrogen receptor-2 NSe genes were detected. Coadministration of Se and NSe attenuated the reproductive toxicity induced by BPA via improvement of the antioxidant activity, genetic changes, and restoration of testicular tissue nearly as control one. These results indicated that both Se and NSe forms could be used as reproductive protective agents against the detrimental effect induced by BPA. However, the NSe surpassed the selenium in modulating the DNA laddering, and the studied gene expression levels, and offered a potent reproductive protection.

The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of linoleic acid-treated oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM) on cumulus cell expansion, oocyte nuclear maturation, blastocyst development and DNA damage of cumulus cells and how its effects were alleviated by supplementation of the maturation medium with Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). Inhibitory effects of LA at a concentration (100 μM/ml) or more significantly decreased the percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II stage, the rate of fully expanded cumulus cells 24 h after IVM and the percentage of blastocyst rate compared with the control (p < 0.05). These inhibitory effects were associated with an increased in DNA damage of cumulus cells compared with controls. However, 10 μg/mL CSNPs completely alleviated the inhibitory effects of LA on nuclear maturation of oocytes, cumulus cell expansion, and blastocyst rate but failed to do so for cleavage rate. The current study concluded that low concentration of LA used for maturation had no inhibitory effect on developmental competence of bovine oocytes compared to the high concentration of LA. Moreover, CSNPs with 10 μg/mL concentration may provide protection to most of the detrimental effects of LA during IVM. Furthermore, supplementation of in vitro maturation media with a higher concentration of CSNPs was of no significance., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)