• 대한한의학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.90-94
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• 2004

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Panax Ginseng (인삼) on the sperm motility and spermatogenesis in the male rat. Methods : We used 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and administered the extract powder of Panax Ginseng to 5 rats (treated group) and normal saline (control group) once a day for 28 days. We isolated their testes surgically, then observed the change of the body weights before and after administration of Panax Ginseng extracts and normal saline. We observed the weight of the testes, epididymis, vascular gland, and prostate. Also, we examined the total, normal motile sperm concentration, and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase. Results : We found that the concentration of normal, motile sperm in the testes of the Panax Ginseng group showed a significant difference compared with the control group. The angiogenesis of the seminiferous tubule was increased and the increasement of the number of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocyte was observed in the Panax Ginseng group through a microscope. The body weight, the weight of the testes, epididymis, prostate and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase were higher in the Panax Ginseng group but showed no significant difference. Conclusion : This study shows that Panax Ginseng may have an effect on the morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility, and can promote the concentration of antioxidants, catalase and peroxidase, which is the important factor in spermatogenesis.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.41-48
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• 2018

The efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to an increase demand for therapeutic use, thereby necessitating investigation into drug toxicity. This study was designed to investigate the in vivo effects of HAART on sperm parameters and testicular oxidative stress in lean and obese rats. Wistar rats (males, n = 40, weighing 180~200 g) were assigned randomly into 4 groups and treated accordingly for 16 weeks as follows: Control (C): lean group fed with standard rat chow; Diet induced obesity (DIO): obese animals fed a high caloric diet; C + ART: lean animals treated with HAART; DIO + ART: obese animals treated with HAART. An antiretroviral drug combination of Tenofovir, Emtricitabine and Efavirenz at a dose of 17, 26 and 50 mg/kg/day was administered for the latter 6 weeks via jelly cube feeding. At the end of the experimental period, sperm analysis was performed on sperm collected from the caudal epididymis, while the testis was homogenized for antioxidant enzyme and lipid peroxidation assays. Results showed that HAART significantly decreased sperm motility (p < 0.05) in both lean and obese animals, and viability (p < 0.05) in the DIO group. Testicular glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05) when the DIO+ART group was compared to Control group. Thus, the decreased sperm qualities associated with HAART might be as a result of increased testicular oxidative stress prominent in obese animals.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.143-148
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• 2014

Arecoline is a major alkaloid of areca nuts which are widely chewed by southeast Asian and it manifests various toxic effects in different organs of human and animals. In this work, mature mice were treated by vitamins C plus E, arecoline, or both daily for four weeks. The results showed that arecoline significantly increased the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and significantly decreased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the liver tissues. Additionally, the body weight, testis weight, sperm counts, motility and normal sperms also were significantly decreased. The supplement of vitamins C and E can bring the activities of ALP and GPT to normal levels and partially restore the sperm counts compared to the arecoline-treated group but have no other positive effects. In conclusion, the vitamins C and E partially attenuated the arecoline-induced hepatotoxiciy but basically had on protective effects against the arecoline-induced testicular toxicity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.26-33
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• 2023

Objective: Human exposure to multiple xenobiotics, over various developmental windows, results in adverse health effects arising from these concomitant exposures. Humans are widely exposed to bisphenol A, and acetaminophen is the most commonly used over-the-counter drug worldwide. Bisphenol A is a well-recognized male reproductive toxicant, and increasing evidence suggests that acetaminophen is also detrimental to the male reproductive system. The recent recognition of male reproductive system dysfunction in conditions of suboptimal reproductive outcomes makes it crucial to investigate the contributions of toxicant exposures to infertility and sub-fertility. We aimed to identify toxicity in the male reproductive system at the mitochondrial level in response to co-exposure to bisphenol A and acetaminophen, and we investigated whether melatonin ameliorated this toxicity. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n=10 each): a control group and groups that received melatonin, bisphenol A, acetaminophen, bisphenol A and acetaminophen, and bisphenol A and acetaminophen with melatonin treatment. Results: Significantly higher lipid peroxidation was observed in the testicular mitochondria and sperm in the treatment groups than in the control group. Levels of glutathione and the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and manganese superoxide dismutase decreased significantly in response to the toxicant treatments. Likewise, the toxicant treatments significantly decreased the sperm count and motility, while significantly increasing sperm mortality. Melatonin mitigated the adverse effects of bisphenol A and acetaminophen. Conclusion: Co-exposure to bisphenol A and acetaminophen elevated oxidative stress in the testicular mitochondria, and this effect was alleviated by melatonin.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.189-198
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• 2023

Background: Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli), a rich source of antioxidants, can prevent various diseases and improve human health. In this study, we investigated the antioxidative effects of broccoli sprout extract on oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide and cisplatin in cell and organ tissue models. Methods: Antioxidative effect of BSE was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS in RAW 364.7 cells, and effects of BSE on testes were investigated using Cisplatin-induced testicular damage model with an in vitro organ culture system. Results: The DPPH assay showed that the antioxidant activity of the alcoholic broccoli sprout extract was higher than that of the water extract. Additionally, the expression levels of antioxidation-related genes, Nrf2, Gsr, HO-1, and catalase, were significantly increased in broccoli sprout extract-treated RAW 264.7 cells, and the extract suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Based on the results in the RAW 264.7 cell culture, the antioxidative effects of the extracts were investigated in a mouse testis fragment culture. The expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and Ddx4 was clearly decreased in cisplatin-treated mouse testis fragments and not in both broccoli sprout extract- and cisplatin-treated mouse testis fragments. In addition, the oxidative marker O-HdG was strongly detected in cisplatin-treated mouse testis fragments, and these signals were reduced by broccoli sprout extract treatment. Conclusions: The results of this study show that broccoli sprout extracts could serve as potential nutraceutical agents as they possess antioxidant effects in the testes.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.202-209
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• 2015

당뇨 합병증을 일으키는 중요 매체인 산화 스트레스에 대한 매생이 추출물과 그 지표물질인 pheophorbide a (PhA)의 정소 조직 내 산화 스트레스 보호 효과를 streptozotocin(STZ)에 의해 유발된 당뇨 쥐 모델에서 확인하였다. 당뇨를 유발하는 물질로 알려진 STZ를 40 mg/kg body weight(b.w.)의 농도로 복강 투여하여 당뇨를 일으킨 후, 매생이 추출물(CFE)샘플을 각각 4, 20 mg/kg b.w. 그리고 PhA를 0.2 mg/kg b.w.로 9 주간 투여하여 실험하였다. 정소 조직에서 산화 스트레스에 생성되는 체내 과산화물 지표인 혈액 nitric oxide와 지질 과산화물이 당뇨 유발군에 비해 CFE와 PhA 투여군에서 유의적인 감소를 보였으며, 체내 과산화물 축적을 제어하는 효소인 glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase가 정상 수준으로 회복되었다. 또한, 체내 항산화 방어기작에서의 중요한 효소인 superoxide dismutase, catalase 활성 또한 샘플 투여 시 회복되는 것을 보아 CFE 투여군과 PhA투여군에서 조직 내 항산화 효소 조절과 함께 과산화물 축적 저해 효과를 통하여 당뇨 상태에서 고혈당에 의한 산화 스트레스가 일으키는 생식 조직 손상으로부터 매생이 추출물과 그 지표물질인 PhA는 보호 효과를 가지는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.526-537
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• 2023

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem worldwide and its eradication is mandatory. Direct acting HCV polymerase inhibitors, such as Sofosbuvir (SOF), is an effective regimen. However, it has some side effects like mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and the impairment of testicular function. It is important to evaluate the safety of SOF on the ovary, as there are no studies yet. Increasing the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), causes oxidative stress, which affects ovulation process, female reproduction, and fertility. Accumulation of SOF in the cells was demonstrated to promote ROS generation. Vitamin E (Vit E) is an antioxidant agent that has an essential role in the female reproductive system, its deficiency can cause infertility. We explored the effect of SOF treatment alone and co-treated with Vit E on ovarian ROS level and ovarian morphology experimentally using biochemical and immunohistochemical studies. Significant changes in oxidative stress markers; nitric oxide and malondialdehyde lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes; catalase, super oxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione, proliferating markers; proliferation cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 antigen and caspase 3 apoptotic marker were demonstrated. It was shown that where SOF induced oxidative stress, it also aggravated ovarian dysfunction. The essential role of Vit E as an antioxidant agent in protecting the ovarian tissue from the effect of oxidative stress markers and preserving its function was also displayed. This could be guidance to add Vit E supplements to SOF regimens to limit its injurious effect on ovarian function.