Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

148-156

Authors: Majid Shokoohi, Malihe Soltani, Seyed-Hosein Abtahi-Eivary, Vahid Niazi, Mohammad Javad Rafeei Poor, Hooman Ravaei, Ramin Salimnejad, Maryam Moghimian, Hamed Shoorei

Objective: To evaluate the impact of Olea (O.) europaea extract on markers of oxidative stress and apoptosis of ovarian tissues in a rat model of torsion/detorsion-induced ovarian damage. Methods: A total of 28 Wistar female rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups, with 7 rats in each group. The sham group received a 2.5 cm longitudinal incision in the midline part of the abdomen which was then sutured with 5-0 nylon thread; the torsion/detorsion group underwent torsion induction for 3 h followed by reperfusion for 10 days; the torsion/detorsion+O. europaea group received 300 mg/kg hydro-alcoholic extract of O. europaea 30 min before detorsion, followed by reperfusion for 10 days; and the O. europaea group only received 300 mg/kg hydro-alcoholic extract of O. europaea for 10 days. After the treatment period, blood samples were taken; the levels of estrogen, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde were assayed. The histological changes, as well as the rate of apoptosis in ovarian tissues, were also carried out by histomorphometric analysis at day 10 post-procedure. Results: Histological comparisons demonstrated a significant detrimental change in the torsion/ detorsion group as compared with other groups. The number of pre-antral and antral follicles and corpus luteum was significantly decreased in the torsion/detorsion group compared with the sham group, while treatment with O. europaea could enhance their numbers (P<0.05). The index of apoptosis and the number of atretic body in the ovarian tissue were significantly higher in the torsion/detorsion group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). The concentrations of glutathione peroxidase, estrogen, and superoxide dismutase as well as the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 were considerably diminished in the torsion/detorsion group while they were elevated in the torsion/detorsion+O. europaea group (P<0.05) compared with the torsion/detorsion group. The serum malondialdehyde level and the mRNA expression of Bax were markedly increased during ischemia, while treatment with O. europaea significantly diminished the increased concentrations of malondialdehyde and Bax level in the torsion/detorsion+O. europaea group (P<0.05). Conclusions: O. europaea extract can reduce the degree of tissue damage induced by oxidative stress and apoptosis in the ovary following ovarian ischemia/reperfusion.

167-173

Authors: Nur Hidayat Che Musa, Haniza Hanim Mohd Zain, Mohammed Muayad TA, Husni Ibrahim

Objective: To investigate the effects of Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts on the aphrodisiac properties including sexual behaviour, testosterone level, percentage of pregnancy, number of offspring and male to female ratio of offspring in ICR mice. Methods: In this experiment, each male cohabitated with one female in a polysulfone cage. 30 ICR male mice were divided into 6 groups that received normal saline (the control group), 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1 000 mg/kg body weight of Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts orally for 21 days consecutively. Sexual behavior, percentage of pregnancy, number of offspring and male to female ratio of offspring in ICR mice were measured according to the established methods. Testosterone level was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Mice that received Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts at 50 mg/kg body weight (day 0) had significantly higher mount frequency as compared to the control group; groups treated with 100, 500, 1 000 mg/kg body weight extracts produced a greater number of offsprings when compared to the control group. All aphrodisiac parameters were similar between the treatment groups and the control group, indicating that Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extract did not significantly alter the aphrodisiac parameters. Conclusions: Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts have no effect on the aphrodisiac properties, but could increase the breeding rate in mice.

181-186

Authors: Abdel-Tawab Abdel-Razek Yassyn Khalil,, Mahmoud Mohamed Hussein

Objective: To determine if insemination at standing heat results in a similar or higher pregnancy rate compared with fixed time artificial insemination, and to study some factors affecting the pregnancy rate. Methods: A total of 8 944 inseminations were included in this study, from which 6 823 inseminations were done in Holstein cows and 2 121 inseminations were performed in Simmental cows. All cows were subjected to a Presynch-Ovsynch protocol. Cows detected in estrus (n=7 424) were artificially inseminated, whereas cows not observed in estrus (n=1 520) were submitted to fixed time artificial insemination. Results: The overall pregnancy rate of cows inseminated on the basis of the detected standing heat was comparable to that recorded for cows receiving fixed time artificial insemination. A higher pregnancy rate was recorded for cows during cold months than that recorded during hot months (P=0.000). A higher pregnancy rate was recorded for Simmental compared with that recorded for Holstein cows (P=0.001). Regarding parity, significant differences in the pregnancy rate were detected between primiparous and multiparous cows (P=0.040). In addition, artificial insemination technicians had no sigificant effect on pregnancy rate (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the used artificial insemination sires significantly (P=0.000) impacted the pregnancy rate. Conclusions: Insemination of cows detected in standing heat prior to predetermined fixed time results in similar pregnancy outcome and decreases days to the first service compared with insemination at the scheduled fixed time at the end of the Presynch-Ovsynch synchronization program. The overall pregnancy outcome is not affected by the breeding program, but it is highly impacted by cow’s breed, parity, artificial insemination sire and breeding season.