AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the ability of CB to ameliorate H2O2-induced oxidative stress in testes and sperm in mice and prevent H2O2-induced oxidative in human sperm.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oxidative stress was induced in male mice by pre-exposure to 2% H2O2 orally for seven consecutive days, followed by 100 and 200 mg/kg b. w. administration. CB for another seven days. At the end of treatment, mice were sacrificed and testes and epididymal sperm were harvested. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were measured and sperm parameters were obtained. Meanwhile, oxidative stress levels in mice testes and sperm, steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis markers in mice testes were assessed by molecular biological techniques. In another experiment, sperm from thirty-two healthy fertile men were incubated with 200 μM H2O2 and CB (100 and 200 μg/ml) simultaneously and were then evaluated for sperm parameter changes.
RESULTS: In mice, CB administration ameliorates persistent increases in oxidative stress and decreases in anti-oxidative enzyme levels in testes and sperm following H2O2 pre-exposure. Additionally, CB also helps to ameliorate deterioration in sperm parameters and testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis and restores the serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels near normal in mice. In humans, CB helps to prevent deterioration in sperm parameters following H2O2 exposure.
CONCLUSION: CB is potentially useful to preserve the male reproductive capability and subsequently male fertility in high oxidative stress conditions.
METHODS: Oxidative stress was induced in male mice via oral administration of 2% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for seven consecutive days, followed by administration of stigmasterol (10 and 20 mg/kg b.w.) orally for another seven days. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed, then blood, testes, and cauda epididymal sperm were immediately harvested. Sperm parameters, testicular morphology, levels of serum reproductive hormones and expression of proteins (MDA, SOD, CAT, GPx, Keap-1, Nrf-2, HO-1, NqO-1 - markers for oxidative stress), (StAR - marker for steroidogenesis) and (ZO-2 and Connexin-43 - markers for blood-testes barrier integrity) were evaluated.
RESULTS: Stigmasterol restores testicular morphology, serum testosterone, LH and FSH levels, sperm parameters and Nrf2, SOD, CAT, GPx, Nqo1, HO-1, StAR, ZO-2, and Connexin-43 expression levels while decreases MDA and Keap1 expression levels in mouse testes.Stigmasterol also help to restore sperm motility, viability, its membrane integrity, and Nqo1 antioxidant levels and decreases sperm DNA fragmentation.
CONCLUSION: Stigmasterol could be used to restore male fertility following exposure to high oxidative stress condition.