• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.143-153
• /
• 2023

Objective: Men's sexual health plays an important role in male fertility and childbearing, as it is associated with factors such as sexual desire, healthy spermatogenesis, and erectile function. In various cultures, medicinal plants have been utilized to address male sexual issues, including infertility and erectile dysfunction. Despite recent advancements in medical science for treating male impotence, some men opt for herbal supplements as an alternative, given that numerous herbs have the potential to enhance male sexual performance. The Apiaceae family is one of the oldest plant families used for medicinal purposes. Ferula, a genus within this family, comprises approximately 170 different species worldwide. Members of this genus possess numerous therapeutic properties due to the presence of various compounds. This article aims to explore the potential impacts of Ferula plants on the male reproductive system. Methods: This review article was prepared by searching for terms including Ferula and "aphrodisiac," Ferula and "spermatogenesis," and Ferula and "male reproductive system." Relevant information was gathered through electronic databases, including ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Results: The findings indicated that relatively comprehensive studies have been conducted in this area, revealing that certain Ferula species have been employed in folk medicine to boost fertility and libido. Recent research has corroborated these effects. Conclusion: It is hoped that new aphrodisiac compounds with fewer side effects can be isolated from Ferula plants in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2006

Objective: Human embryonic stem (ES) cells have a great potential in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The human ES cells could be differentiated into specific cell types by treatments of growth factors and alterations of gene expressions. However, the efficacy of guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells are still low. In this study, we characterized isolated cells from differentiated human ES cells by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) system using specific antibodies to cell surface markers. Methods: The undifferentiated hES cells (Miz-hESC4) were sub-cultured by mechanical isolation of colonies and embryoid bodies were spontaneously differentiated with DMEM containing 10% FBS for 2 weeks. The differentiated cells were isolated to positive and negative cells with MACS system using CD34, human epithelial antigen (HEA) and human fibroblast (HFB) antibodies, respectively. Observation of morphological changes and analysis of marker genes expression were performed during further culture of MACS isolated cells for 4 weeks. Results: Morphology of the CD34 positive cells was firstly round, and then it was changed to small polygonal shape after further culture. The HEA positive cells showed large polygonal, and the HFB positive spindle shape. In RT-PCR analysis of marker genes, the CD34 and HFB positive cells expressed endodermal and mesodermal genes, and HEA positive cells expressed ectodermal genes such as NESTIN and NF68KD. The marker genes expression pattern of CD34 positive cells changed during the extension of culture time. Conclusion: Our results showed the possibility of successful isolation of specific cells by MACS system from undirected differentiated human ES cells. Thus, MACS system and marker antibodies for specific cell types might be useful for guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells from human ES cells.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2001

Golden hamsters show the reproductive activity that is determined by the photoperiod (length of light per day). Photoperiod is an environmental factor that is predictable through an entire year. The hamsters are sexually active in summer during which day length exceeds night time. The critical length is at least 12.5 hours of light in a day where reproductive function is maintained. The information of photoperiod is mediated by the pineal gland because removal of pineal gland blocks the influence of photoperiod on reproductive activity. The hamsters without pineal gland maintain sexual activity and promote it in a situation that suppresses gonadal activity. The pineal gland secretes melatonin that reflects the photoperiod. The appropriate administrations of melatonin into both pineal intact and pinealectomized hamsters lead to a gonadal reression. The results suggest that melatonin constitutes a part of control mechanism whereby environmental information is transduced to neuroendocrine signal respensible for the functional integrity of the reproductive system. Despite of the intense studies, the action site of melatonin is on the whole unknown. It is mainly due to the lack of acute efffct of melatonin on the secretion of reproductive hormones. However, sexually regressed animals display the low levelsof gonadotropins and the augmentation of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) content, implying that the antigonadotropic effects either by photoperiod and/or by the treatment of melatonin are mediated by the GnRH neuronal system. The action mechanism by which melatonin exerts its effect on GnRH neuron needs to be investigated. Recent cloning of melatonin receptor will contribute to examine various and putative potencies of melatonin via its anatomical identification and the action mechanism of melatonin on target tissues at the molecular level.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.193-203
• /
• 1998

The toxicity of DA-125. a new anthracycline anticancer agent, on the male reproductive system was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Forty male rats were rando$m\ell$y assigned to Jour groups with ten rats in each group and given single intraveneous doses of DA-125 at dose levels of 0. 12.5. 25. and 50 mg/kg body weight. On day 56 after treatment the animals were allowed to mate. and their male reproductive Junctions and organs were examined in detail. Copulated females were sacrificed on day 20 of gestation for examination of embryo-fetal development. One out of ten rats in the 50 mg/kg group died on day 12 after treatment. Clinical signs such as emaciation. sedation, anorexia. swelling. dark material around eye. alopecia. and diarrhea were observed in the 25 and/or 50 mg/kg groups. Reduction in the body weight gain. decrease in the absolute weights of testes. epididymis and seminal vesicles. and/or decrease in the number of testicular sperm heads were also found. Although histopathological changes such as atrophy of seminiferous tubules. loss or decrease of spermatogenic cells. exfoliation of spermatogenic cells. vacuolization of Sertoli cells. decrease of sperm. and/or increase of necrotic spermatogenic cells in epididymal ducts were observed. no adverse effects on the motility and morphology of epididymal sperm. copulation index. fertility index. and embryo-fetal development were detected in the 25 and 50 mg/kg groups. There were no evidences of male reproductive toxicity in the 12.5 mg/kg group. These results show that single intravenouse doses of DA-125 produce significant dose-related testicular atrophy. histopathological changes. and oligozoospermia in rats and $LD_{10}$ for DA-125 appears to be 50 mg/kg body weight.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.60-60
• /
• 2003

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have property of self-renewal and can differentiate into the cells of all three primary germ layers. Recently, many growth factors, alteration of culture condition and gene modifications have been used to differentiate mouse and human ES cells into specific cell types. This study was performed to evaluate the differentiation protocol for human ES cells to the endodermal lineage cells. Human ES cells (Miz-hESl ) were cultured on STO feeder layer mitotically inactivated with mitemycin C, and embryoid bodies (EBs) were formed by suspension culture. Differentiation protocol of EBs consisted of three steps: stage I, culture of EBs for 6 days with ITSFn medium; stage II, culture of stage I cells for 8 days with N2 medium ; stage III, culture of stage II cells for 22 days with N2 medium. mRNA levels of the endodermal lineage differentiation genes were analyzed by semi- quantitative RT-PCR. The Oct-4 expression, a marker of the pluripotent state, was detected in undifferentiated human ES cells but progressively decreased after EBs formation. Differentiating human ES cells expressed marker genes of endodermal differentiation and pancreatic islet cells. GATA4, a-fetoprotein, Glut-2, and Ngn3 were expressed in all stages. However, albumin and insulin were expressed in only stage III cells. The human ES cells can be differentiated into endodermal lineage cells by multiple step culture system using various supplements. We are developing the more effective protocols for guided differentiation of human ES cells.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.21-32
• /
• 2011

Studies of the red algal genus Bostrychia over the last 15 years have made it a model system for many evolutionary processes within red algal species. The combination of newly developed, or first employed methods, in red algal species studies has made Bostrychia a pioneer genus in intraspecific studies. Bostrychia was the first genus in which a mitochondrial marker was used for intraspecific red algal phylogeny, and the first for which a 3-genome phylogeny was undertaken. The genus was the first red alga used to genetically show maternal plastid and mitochondria inheritance, and also to show correlation between cryptic species (genetically divergent intraspecific lineages) and reproductive incompatibility. The chemotaxonomic use, and physiological function of osmolytes, has also been extensively studied in Bostrychia. Our continuous studies of Bostrychia also highlight important aspects in algal species studies. Our worldwide sampling, and resampling in certain areas, show that intensive sampling is needed to accurately assess the genetic diversity and therefore phylogeographic history of algal species, with increased sampling altering evolutionary hypotheses. Our studies have also shown that long-term morphological character stability (stasis) and character convergence can only be correctly assessed with wide geographic sampling of morphological species. While reproductive incompatibility of divergent lineages supports the biological species nature of these lineages, reproductive incompatibility is also seen between isolates with little genetic divergence. It seems that reproductive incompatibility may evolve quickly in red algae and the unique early stages of fertilization (e.g., gametes covered by walls, active movement of spermatium nuclei to the distant egg nucleus), also well investigated in Bostrychia,. may be key to our understanding of this process.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.67-71
• /
• 2006

A total of 120 male and 240 female quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh) were used to determine the effect of feeding time on laying and reproductive performance of Pharaoh quail. They were fed ad libitum between 09:00 to 17:00 or full day, daily. Each female-male pair was housed in multiple-bird cages and colony cages. Initial and final body weight, quail-day egg production, feed consumption per egg and mortality were measured to determine laying performance of breeders. A total of 960 eggs were used to determine reproductive performance of quail in each treatment group. Eggs were incubated in a commercial setter and hatcher in standard conditions. Embryonic mortality, apparent fertility, hatchability of total and fertile eggs were calculated to determine the reproductive performance. Results indicated that feeding between 09:00 to 17:00 h reduced final body weight and egg production (p<0.001, p<0.001). Whereas, limited time of feeding improved hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001) and reduced embryonic mortality (p<0.001) when compared with the effects of feeding full day. It was found that there were no significant differences for the egg production of quail housed in different cage systems. Quail caged in multiple-bird cages consumed less feed (p<0.01) compared to quail housed in colony cages. There were significant differences for the mortality (p<0.05), hatchability of total (p<0.001) and fertile eggs (p<0.001), and embryonic mortality (p<0.001) during the incubation due to main effect of cage systems. There were significant cage $systems{\times}feeding$ time interactions for hatchability of total and fertile eggs and embryonic mortality (p<0.001). As a conclusion; feeding from 09:00 to 17:00 reduced laying performance of quail and improved the reproductive traits compared to full day feeding of quail breeders. But, further investigations are needed to determine the optimum length of feeding time and egg production of breeders in quail fed limited time must be evaluated in comparison with its beneficial or detrimental effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.221-228
• /
• 2021

Objective: This study investigated the effect of crocin in methylglyoxal (MGO)-induced diabetic male mice. Methods: Seventy 1-month-old male NMRI mice weighing 20-25 g were divided into seven groups (n=10): sham, MGO (600 mg/kg/day), MGO+crocin (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg/day), MGO+metformin (150 mg/kg/day), and crocin (60 mg/kg/day). MGO was administered orally for 30 days. Starting on day 14, after confirming hyperglycemia, metformin and crocin were administered orally. On day 31, plasma and tissue samples were prepared for experimental assessments. Results: Blood glucose and insulin levels in the MGO group were higher than those in the sham group (p<0.001), and decreased in response to metformin (p<0.001) and crocin treatment (not at all doses). Testis width and volume decreased in the MGO mice and improved in the crocin-treated mice (p<0.05), but not in the metformin group. Superoxide dismutase levels decreased in diabetic mice (p<0.05) and malondialdehyde levels increased (p<0.001). Crocin and metformin improved malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase. Testosterone (p<0.001) and sperm count (p<0.05) decreased in the diabetic mice, and treatment with metformin and crocin recovered these variables. Luteinizing hormone levels increased in diabetic mice (p<0.001) and crocin treatment (but not metformin) attenuated this increase. Seminiferous diameter and height decreased in the diabetic mice and increased in the treatment groups. Vacuoles and ruptures were seen in diabetic testicular tissue, and crocin improved testicular morphology (p<0.01). Conclusion: MGO increased oxidative stress, reduced sex hormones, and induced histological problems in male reproductive organs. Crocin and metformin improved the reproductive damage caused by MGO-induced diabetes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.154-162
• /
• 2018

Objective: The fallopian tubes play a critical role in the early events of fertilization. The rapid innate immune defense is an important part of the fallopian tubes. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), as a part of the innate immune system, plays an important role in detecting viral infections. In this basic and experimental study, the effect of sex hormones on the function of TLR3 in the OE-E6/E7 cell line was investigated. Methods: The functionality of TLR3 in this cell line was evaluated by cytokine measurements (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-1b) and the effects of sex hormones on TLR3 were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Additionally, TLR3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and a TLR3 function-blocking antibody were used to confirm our findings. Results: The production of IL-6 significantly increased in the presence of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) as the TLR3 ligand. Using a TLR3-siRNA-ransfected OE-E6/E7 cell line and function-blocking antibody confirmed that cytokine production was due to TLR3. In addition, 17-${\beta}$ estradiol and progesterone suppressed the production of IL-6 in the presence and absence of poly(I:C). Conclusion: These results imply that sex hormones exerted a suppressive effect on the function of TLR3 in the fallopian tube cell line when different concentrations of sex hormones were present. The current results also suggest that estrogen receptor beta and nuclear progesterone receptor B are likely to mediate the hormonal regulation of TLR3, as these two receptors are the main estrogen and progesterone receptors in OEE6/E7 cell line.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 2023

Background: The potential impact of aqueous extracts from Psidium guajava leaves on the reproductive system of female rabbits was evaluated. Methods: Twenty-eight rabbits, aged five to six months were utilized. Rabbits were divided into four groups and were randomly assigned to receive one of the following oral doses of the guava leaf extracts: 0 (control group), 10, 20, or 30 mg/kg of body weight. After a treatment period of 30 days, blood was collected via jugular venipunture and the serum was extracted for the assessment of serum biochemical traits levels. The females were bred and monitored throughout their pregnancy to ascertain reproductive outcomes. Results: The results indicated that the guava leaf extract significantly increased the body weight of the rabbits during both pre- and post-pregnancy compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The litter size at three weeks post-birth, prolificity rate, FSH, LH, and protein levels were notably higher (p < 0.05) at a dose of 20 mg/kg of body weight. The viability rate three weeks post-birth increased with escalating extract doses, and the highest values were observed at doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg of body weight (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that, the aqueous extract of guava leaves appears to stimulate the production of FSH, LH and enhance body weight, prolificity, and pregnancy outcomes in mammals. As such, it is suggested that a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight could be beneficial in improving the reproductive performance of female.