• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제43권1호
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2019

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer, known as Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), is one of the important age-old traditional herbs used in boosting libido and improving male fertility. In this study, the effects of Rg3-enriched KRG extract (KGC04P) on heat stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats was evaluated. Methods: Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into four groups (n = 10): normal control (NC), heat-stressed control (HC), heat-stressed plus KGC04P-100 mg/kg (HK100), and heat-stressed plus KGC04P-200 mg/kg (HK200) groups. Starting 1 week prior to heat stress, animals were administered orally with KGC04P (100 and 200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet and continued for 25 weeks. Heat stress was induced to HC, HK100, and HK200 groups by intermittently exposing the animals to high temperatures ($32{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 2 h/day). After 6 months, animals were euthanized under general anesthesia with carbon dioxide and evaluated for various parameters in serum and testicular tissue by using Western blotting, biochemical kits, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Significant (p < 0.05) alterations in several parameters, such as body/organ weight, sperm kinematics, and lipid metabolism marker levels, in the serum and testis of rats were observed. Further, the expression of testicular antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, sex hormonal receptors, and spermatogenesis-related genes were also affected significantly (p < 0.05) in the heat-stressed group. However, KGC04P prevented the heat stress-induced changes in rats significantly (p < 0.05) at both concentrations. Conclusion: KGC04P attenuated heat stress-induced testicular damage by a multifunctional approach and can be developed as an excellent therapeutic agent for hyperthermia-mediated male infertility.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.65-74
• /
• 2017

Sleep deprivation is an extremely common event in today's society. It has caused learning cognitive skill deterioration and poor concentration, increased disease such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, sexual function decrease, infertility increase, depression and autonomic nervous system disorder. Sleep deprivation-induced stress caused NADPH oxidase and oxidative stress. And this oxidative stress induces apoptosis. Lilii bulbus and Nelumbins semen are known to mental and physical relaxation effects. In this study, we induced sleep deprivation(SD) in Sprague-Dawley rats in water for 5 days and thereafter administered orally L. bulbus and N. semen for 5 days. Brain tissues were observed by histochemical, immunohistochemical and tunel staining. The immunoreactives of Tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$, Neuronal nitric oxide synthases, Phospho-SAPK/JNK and gp91-phox of the L. bulbus administered group and N. semen administered group were weaker than those of sleep deprivation group. In the L. bulbus administered group and N. semen administered group, apoptosis was decreased than that of sleep deprivation group. Proapoptotic p53, Bax, Cleaved caspase 3 immunoreactives of the administered group were weaker than those of sleep deprivation group, whereas anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 immunoreactity was stronger in the L. bulbus administered group and N. semen administered group. Antioxidant mechanism such as DJ-1, superoxide dismutase 1, Nuclear factor-like 2 immunoreactives of the L. bulbus and N. semen administered group were stronger than those of sleep deprivation group. These results demonstrate that L. bulbus, N. semen had the neuroprotective effects on the sleep deprivation-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.168-179
• /
• 2020

Objective: This study investigated testicular oxidative stress status and physiomorphological function in Wistar rats fed with yaji and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂). Methods: Sixty male albino Wistar rats (12 per group) were randomly assigned to five groups: group I (control), group II (300 mg/kg.bw of yaji), group III (500 mg/kg.bw of yaji), group IV (2.5 mg/kg.bw of CdCl₂), and group V (2.5 mg/kg.bw of yaji+4 mg/kg.bw omega-3). Each group was evenly subdivided into two subgroups and treatment was administered for 14 days and 42 days, respectively. Semen quality (sperm count, progressive motility, normal morphology, and gonadosomatic index), hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone), testicular oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malonaldehyde) and testicular histomorphological features were examined. Results: Yaji caused significant (p< 0.05) dose- and duration-dependent reductions in semen quality, the gonadosomatic index, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. Yaji also caused significant (p< 0.05) dose- and duration-dependent decreases in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity, as well as increased testicular malonaldehyde levels. Yaji induced distortions in the testicular histological architecture. CdCl₂ damaged testicular function by significantly (p< 0.05) reducing semen quality, reproductive hormone levels, and oxidative stress markers in albino Wistar rats. CdCl₂ also altered the histology of the testis. Conclusion: This study shows that yaji sauce has similar anti-fertility effects to those of CdCl₂, as it adversely interferes with male reproduction by impairing oxidative stress markers and the function and morphological features of the testis.

• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제59권2호
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2019

We investigated whether ${\beta}$-carotene (${\beta}-CA$) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of ${\beta}-CA$ or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at $43^{\circ}C$ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and $TGF-{\beta}1$ mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by ${\beta}-CA$ treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that ${\beta}-CA$, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.

• 근관절건강학회지
• /
• 제25권3호
• /
• pp.205-217
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to analyze the characteristics and effectiveness of online-based intervention for infertile women. Methods: We established the PICO (Participant-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) strategy and conducted a systematic review of 7 literatures retrieved from 3 electronic databases of Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Two investigators independently extracted the data and assessed the quality of included studies using Cochrane risk of bias. Results: The pregnancy outcome showed that higher total risk scores (TRS) about lifestyle behavior was significantly associated with lower chance of pregnancy (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.72~0.85). Stress was significantly decreased in experimental groups receiving online-based interventions (p<.05). Depression score was significantly lower in groups receiving additional interventions besides on-line interventions than those who used online-based intervention only. The other outcomes, including anxiety, self-efficacy, helpfulness of intervention, perceived social support, and knowledge scores were not significantly different within and between groups in overall. Characteristics of the interventions were heterogeneous. Conclusion: There is evidence that online-based intervention in infertile women enhances the pregnancy and reduces stress levels.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
• /
• 제38권1호
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2023

Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli) is a type of cabbage that contains vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Consequently, it is used as a potential nutraceutical source for improving human health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Here, the effects of broccoli sprout extract (BSE) on the inflammatory response were investigated through lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory mouse models. First, we found that the BSE obviously reduce NO production in RAW 264.7 cells in response to LPS stimulation in in vitro study. Pretreatment with BSE administration improved sperm motility and testicular cell survivability in LPS-induced endotoxemic mice. Additionally, BSE treatment decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-a, IL-1β, and IL-6, and COX-2 in testis of LPS-induced endotoxemic mice models. In conclusion, BSE could be a potential nutraceutical for preventing the excessive immune related infertility.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제44권5호
• /
• pp.298-305
• /
• 2011

Most intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially superoxide anion ($O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$) that is converted from oxygen, are overproduced by excessive electron leakage from the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Intracellular oxidative stress that damages cellular components can contribute to lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis, and age-related diseases such as cancer and neuronal degenerative diseases. We have previously demonstrated that the excessive mitochondrial $O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$ production caused by SDHC mutations (G71E in C. elegans, I71E in Drosophila and V69E in mouse) results in premature death in C. elegans and Drosophila, cancer in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells and infertility in transgenic mice. SDHC is a subunit of mitochondrial complex II. In humans, it has been reported that mutations in SDHB, SDHC or SDHD often result in inherited head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs). Recently, we established Tet-mev-1 conditional transgenic mice using our uniquely developed Tet-On/Off system, which equilibrates transgene expression to endogenous levels. These mice experienced mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction that resulted in $O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$ overproduction. The mitochondrial oxidative stress caused excessive apoptosis leading to low birth weight and growth retardation in the neonatal developmental phase in Tet-mev-1 mice. Here, we briefly describe the relationships between mitochondrial $O_2^{{\bullet}_-}$ and aging phenomena in mev-1 animal models

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제49권1호
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2022

Objective: Oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) have been linked to idiopathic male infertility (IMI). Various antioxidants have been tried to improve semen parameters and fertility potential in IMI patients, but with inconsistent results. The study aimed to compare the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Centrum multivitamins on semen parameters, seminal antioxidant capacity, and SDF in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (OA). Methods: This prospective controlled clinical study involved 130 patients with idiopathic OA and 58 fertile controls. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: the first group received CoQ10 (200 mg/day orally) and the second group received Centrum multivitamins (1 tablet/day) for 3 months. Semen parameters, CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, SDF, and serum hormone levels (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and prolactin) were compared at baseline and after 3 months. Results: Both CoQ10 and Centrum improved sperm concentration and motility, but the improvement was greater with Centrum therapy (p<0.05). Similarly, both therapies improved antioxidant capacity, but TAC and catalase improvement was greater (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively) with CoQ10, whereas ROS (p<0.01) and SDF (p<0.001) improvements were greater with Centrum administration. Centrum therapy was associated with reduced serum testosterone (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, both CoQ10 and Centrum were effective in improving semen parameters, antioxidant capacity, and SDF, but the improvement was greater with Centrum than with CoQ10. Therefore, Centrum-as a source of combined antioxidants-may provide more effective results than individual antioxidants such as CoQ10 in the treatment of infertile men with idiopathic OA.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2013

Paeonia lactiflora Pall (PL) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in China, Korea, and Japan for more 1,200 years. PL has reported to have antioxidant activity and protective effect of cells from oxidative stress, although the mechanism has not been verified. FOXO3a is a transcription factor that binds to its target gene's consensus FOXO binding site. FOXO3a protein modulates the various biological functions including cell cycle control, apoptosis, DNA repair, and ROS detoxification. Therefore, FOXO3a activity is associated with cancer, aging, diabetes, infertility, neurodegeneration, and immune system dysfunction. Here we found that FOXO3a was activated by PL extract. Transcriptional target genes such as MnSOD, p27, and GADD45 were activated by PL extract. Protein levels of MnSOD and catalase were increased, consequently, ROS level was reduced in HEF cells by PL extract. These findings suggest that PL extract has an antioxidant activity through FOXO activation and thereby activation of FOXO target genes, MnSOD and catalase.

• 여성건강간호학회지
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.60-72
• /
• 2019

Purpose: To determine effects of irrational parenthood cognition, family support, and resilience on depression in infertile women. Methods: Subjects were 118 infertile women who agreed to participate in this study. Data were collected from April 16 to July 31, 2018. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's correlation and multiple regression with SPSS WIN 23.0 program. Results: Depression significantly differed according to the burden of treatment cost and presence of people giving stress. Depression showed significantly positive correlation with irrational parenthood cognition and significantly negative correlations with family support and resilience. Factors affecting depression were irrational parenthood cognition, family support, and resilience. Irrational parenthood cognition had the greatest effect on depression. These three variables explained 35.8% of total variance. Conclusion: Irrational parenthood cognition, family support, and resilience affected depression of infertile women, with irrational parenthood cognition having the greatest effect. Therefore, it is important to develop and implement programs that can reduce irrational parenthood cognition and increase family support and resilience in order to lower depression of infertile women. The authors declared no conflict of interest.