Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

64-69

Authors: Derouiche Samir, Doudi Dalal, Atia Noura

Objective: To determine the effects of routine iron supplementation on oxidative stress markers in pregnant women. Methods: This study enrolled 122 pregnant women aged between 20-38 years throughout three stages of pregnancy: beginning with pregnancy, until the twentieth week and up to the thirtieth week. They were divided into two groups: 61 pregnant women not supplemented with iron (the control group), and 61 pregnant women supplemented with iron (the iron group). Blood samples were collected and protein, iron, uric acid, total bilirubin level and oxidative stress status were estimated using molecular spectrophotometric method. Copper levels were estimated by using atomic absorption spectroscopy method. Results: Iron, protein and copper concentrations were significantly increased (P<0.05) at 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy and hemoglobin level was significantly increased (P<0.05) at the beginning of pregnancy and until 20 weeks in the iron group compared to the control group. In addition, levels of serum uric acid, serum total bilirubin and malondialdehyde in serum and erythrocytes were significantly increased at 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy whereas the reduced glutathione level was significantly decreased in serum (30 weeks of pregnancy) and erythrocytes (20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy) in the iron group as compared to the control group. Serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity was not significantly changed. There was a significant positive correlation between serum iron level and serum copper, malondialdehyde level in serum and erythrocytes in pregnant women supplemented with iron. Conclusions: Iron supplement at 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy plays a role in the development of oxidative stress which is the origin of several maternal-fetal complications.

77-82

Authors: Preethi Concessao, Laxminarayana Kurady Bairy, Archana Parampalli Raghavendra

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Mucuna (M.) pruriens against arsenic-induced testicular impairment in albino mice. Methods: Thirty-six male albino mice were divided into six groups, with 6 mice in each group. Group 1 received drinking water as the normal control. Groups 2 to 6 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) in drinking water. Group 3 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 300 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of N-acetylcysteine. Group 4 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 500 mg/kg b.w. of M. pruriens. Group 5 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 1 000 mg/kg b.w. of M. pruriens. Group 6 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 2 000 mg/kg b.w. of M. pruriens. N-acetylcysteine and M. pruriens were administered orally once a day. Animals were subjected to the above treatments for 45 days. Animals were sacrificed with overdose of ketamine 24 h following drug administration. The testis was used for biochemical estimations (lipid peroxidation and glutathione), and the epididymis was used to determine the sperm count and morphology. Results: Sodium arsenite significantly decreased (P<0.01) the sperm count and glutathione levels of the testis. It significantly increased (P<0.01) the abnormal architecture of the spermatozoa and lipid peroxidation levels. Treatment with M. pruriens significantly increased the sperm count and the glutathione levels [500 mg/kg b.w. and 1 000 mg/kg b.w. (P<0.01)]. A significant decrease in sperm abnormality and lipid peroxidation levels [500 mg/kg b.w. and 1 000 mg/kg b.w. (P<0.01)] was also observed. Conclusions: The perturbed sperm parameters and antioxidant levels of the arsenic insulted testis are attenuated by 500 mg/kg b.w. and 1 000 mg/kg b.w. M. pruriens.

89-95

Authors: Maryam Hassanzadeh Moghadam, Mehrdad Shariati, Sirous Naeimi, Mohammad Amin Edalatmanesh

Objective: To study the influence of N-acetylcysteine on the pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and protamine expression level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats. Methods: Forty-two adult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups, with 7 rats in each group. The control group left untreated; the streptozotocin group only received 50 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin intraperitoneally for 5 days to induce diabetes; the N-acetylcysteine group only received 200 mg/kg body weight N-acetylcysteine intraperitoneally, and the streptozotocin+N- acetylcysteine groups 1, 2 and 3 received 50 mg/kg streptozotocin intraperitoneally for 5 days to induce diabetes and then received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight doses of N-acetylcysteine intraperitoneally for 28 days, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone, and real-time PCR was applied for measuring protamine expression level. Results: Compared to the control and N-acetylcysteine groups, a significant decrease in the body weight, testicular weight and levels of testosterone and protamine expression was observed in the streptozotocin group and the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine groups 1 and 2. On the contrary, the levels of LH and FSH increased significantly. In the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine group 3, the body weight, testicular weight and expression level of protamine were significantly higher than those of the streptozotocin group. In the streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine groups, testosterone and LH levels were significantly higher than and lower than the streptozotocin group, respectively. In the streptozotocin+N- acetylcysteine groups 2 and 3, the level of FSH was significantly lower than that of the streptozotocin group and streptozotocin+N- acetylcysteine group 1. Furthermore, a significant increase in the expression level of protamine was observed in the streptozotocin+N- acetylcysteine groups 2 and 3 when compared to the streptozotocin group and streptozotocin+N-acetylcysteine group 1. Conclusions: N-acetylcysteine in an optimal dose of 400 mg/kg body weight has a protective influence on the pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and also on the expression level of protamine in diabetic male rats.

104-108

Authors: Wan-Nor Fitri, Haron Wahid, Putra Tengku Rinalfi, Dana Raj, Yawah Donny, Latip Qayyum, Ab Aziz Abdul Malek

Objective: To evaluate normal spermatozoa morphometry and ultrastructure in estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Methods: Four adult male crocodiles aged between 12-15 years, with an average snout to tail length of (3.15±0.01) m were selected for this study. Manipulation of the phallus digitally from the base of the penis was performed on four adult male crocodiles to facilitate the flow of semen to the sulcus. Semen was collected from all individuals for spermatozoa morphometry and ultrastructure study. Morphometry analysis was performed from eosin-nigrosin stained spermatozoa sample. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted to observe the surface ultrastructure of spermatozoa. Results: The morphology of crocodile spermatozoa was made up of acrosome, head, and tail which corresponded to (5.55±1.20) µm, (12.74±1.57) µm, and (70.67±4.40) µm, respectively. The total length of spermatozoa in estuarine crocodile was measured at (88.96±0.52) µm. The most common spermatozoa abnormalities found in the samples were cytoplasmic droplets. Conclusions: Normal morphology, morphometry of spermatozoa in estuarine crocodile which are vermiform shaped-head with a long tail along with questionably high cytoplasmic droplets count are described in this study.