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Objective. Reproductive disorders are one of the complications of diabetes mellitus. Since conflicting results have been obtained from different studies, which examined serum levels of cytokines in patients with diabetes, and considering the fact that the origin of cytokines cannot be accurately determined from their serum changes, attempts were made in the present study to study histological changes and testicular tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-1 in rats treated with exercise. Considering the effects of exercise in reducing blood sugar level and its complications, two types of short-term and long-term regular exercises were also considered to evaluate their effects on male reproductive tissues. Methods. In this study, 60 male rats with the weight range of 250±50 g were used and were randomly divided into six groups (10 rats each). Healthy groups included sedentary control group, and groups treated with two and eight weeks of exercise. Rats with type 1 diabetes (induced by streptozotocin) included sedentary control group, groups treated with two and eight weeks of exercise (six groups). All groups were evaluated in terms of testicular tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-1 using ELISA and the histometry of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, Sertoli cells, epithelial thickness, diameter of veins, and thickness of the seminiferous tubule. Results. Histological changes resulting from diabetes, particularly in the diameter of testicular veins and a number of cells, including Sertoli, highlights the important fact that tissue perfusion in patients with diabetes is especially crucial, in a way that exercise proved useful for tissue structures by offsetting this complication. Measurement of the cytokines IL-1 and TNF-α in the current study showed that perfusion problems are more important in diabetic complications than inflammatory factors. Conclusions. The main result of this research is recommendation of investigating the tissue of interest for diagnosis of diabetes complications, measuring inflammatory mediators of tissue rather than evaluating their serum concentrations, and focusing on vascular complications as a major complication of diabetes. Furthermore, regular exercise could help improve the function of reproductive organs in healthy groups and prevent diabetes infertility complications to an acceptable degree in diabetic groups.

Objective(s): Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption has been linked to metabolic disorders and reproductive dysfunctions in offspring. Troxerutin (TRO) has anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study examined the effects of TRO on apelin-13, its receptors mRNA and ovarian histological changes in the offspring of HFD fed rats. Materials and Methods: Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control diet (CD) or HFD groups and received these diets for eight weeks. After mating, dams were assigned into four subgroups: CD, CD + TRO, HFD, and HFD + TRO, and received their respective diets until the end of lactation. Troxerutin (150 mg/ kg/day) was gavaged in the CD + TRO and HFD + TRO groups during pregnancy. On the postnatal day (PND) 21 all female offspring were separated and fed CD until PND 90. On PND 90 animals were sacrificed and ovarian tissue samples were collected for further evaluation. Results: Results showed that HFD significantly decreased serum apelin-13 in the female offspring of the HFD dams, which was significantly reversed by TRO. Moreover, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed that TRO treatment significantly decreased the ovarian mRNA expression of the apelin-13 receptor in the troxerutin-received offspring. Furthermore, histological examination revealed that TRO increased the number of atretic follicles in the ovaries of HFD+TRO offspring. Conclusion: Maternal high fat feeding compromises ovarian health including follicular growth and development in the adult offspring and troxerutin treatment improved negative effects of maternal HFD on the apelin-13 level and ovarian development of offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Up until now, the effect of thyroid hormones on the male reproductive organ, after puberty, is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the morpho-histometrical effects of thyroid hormone deficiency on the adult-male rat reproductive organs were investigated. MATHODS: Thirty adult male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10): control, hypothyroid, and hypothyroid which receives Levothyroxine. After 4-months we examined the number of spermatogonia cells, primary spermatocytes, and Sertoli cells, as well as the seminiferous tubules epithelium thickness, area of seminiferous tubules, and the diameter and thickness of testis artery walls. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the hypothyroid and control rats in terms of the area of seminiferous tubules, the number of spermatogonia cells, primary spermatocytes, and Sertoli cells. Moreover, the epithelium thickness of seminiferous tubules and the diameter and thickness of artery walls were significantly decreased in hypothyroid group compared with the control rats. CONCLUSIONS: These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that hypothyroidism can affect the male fertility and declare that it may influence male reproduction by reducing the testis blood flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is an industrial solvent that causes kidney, lung, testicles, brain, and blood diseases. In the present study, we investigated protective effects of Sophora pachycarpa extracts on testicular histopathology damage in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: In this study, divided into six experimental groups (n = 6): 3 groups as pre-treatment, received extract of S. pachycarpa at 50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day, and 250 mg/kg/day doses by gavage procedure for 21 days before intraperitoneal injection of 500 μL/kg CCl4 on the day of 21, control group receiving 500 μL/kg CCl4 on the day of 21, post-treatment group received 100 mg/kg/day extract for 10 days and 12 h after injection of 250 μL/kg CCl4. The testicular tissues were samples at the end of the treatments for histological examination. Results: Histopathological examination of testis in CCl4-treatment group showed degeneration in seminiferous tubules and germ cells, intercellular dehiscence, andloss of cells into the lumen. Treatment of S. pachycarpa extract (250 mg/kg) resulted in remarkable improvement in testicular histopathological alterations caused by CCl4 in testis sections. Conclusions: Based on the findings, it is concluded that the extract of Sophora pachycarpa can improve the adverse effects of CCl4 on testicular tissue, possibly via its bioactive compounds having antioxidant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globally-distributed widow spiders are among the venomous and dangerous species of arachnids. Widow spider bites are prevalent in the majority of countries. Since widow spiders had not been previously spotted in the Eastern Azerbaijan Province, we decided to report the cases. This is the report of 4 patients, who had been bitten by widow spiders around Kaleybar and Ahar regions in Eastern Azerbaijan Province, Iran. The patients, complaining of black colored spider bite, had been dispatched to the Emergency Medical Services Center of the province. Based on the patients' symptoms, we suspected the bites belonged to widow spiders. We visited the residence of the patients and finally managed to hunt the spider in the grain fields near Abish Ahmad, a subsidiary to the City of Kaleybar, where three cases had been bitten. Examinations of the hunted spider in the zoology laboratory of Tabriz University revealed its species as Latrodectus dahli. Bite of the widow spider results in stimulation of the nervous system, hypertension, tachycardia, muscle spasms, and severe pains in patients, which need hospitalization, palliative care, and in some cases antidotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High blood glucose levels increase the ratio of phosphorylated to non-phosphorylated connexin-43 amounts, which leads to the decomposition of the hyperphosphorylated connexin-43. This can cause heart arrhythmia in diabetic patients. Considering the effective role of exercise in diabetic patients, and because there are few studies regarding the effect of exercise on phosphorylated connexin-43 protein levels, in the present study the impact of different periods of moderate regular exercise on phosphorylated Connexion-43 levels were examined., Methods: Sixty (60) male Wistar rats (300 ± 50 g) were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10). A week after induction of diabetes by injection of streptozotocin, one hour treadmill exercise, 5 days a week with 22 (m/min) speeds was undertaken. Left ventricles of hearts were isolated and immediately frozen. Finally, phosphorylated connexin-43 protein levels were measured by ELISA method., Results: The means of blood glucose levels were significantly decreased (P < 0/05) by increasing days of exercise. The means of blood glucose levels were significantly decreased (P < 0/05) by increasing days of exercise. Regular moderate exercise reduced the connexin-43 levels by increasing days of exercise (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: It is concluded that regular moderate exercise reduces the amount of phosphorylated connexin-43 protein levels in the ventricular myocardium, by reducing blood glucose levels. This can result in partial inhibition of cardiac arrhythmia observed in diabetic patients. This research was done in Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.