AIMTo examine the effects on rat aging of caloric restriction (CR1) and undernutrition (CR2) on the body and on testicular weights, on two enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase), on lipid peroxidation and on the expression of testicular aromatase and estrogen receptors (ER).

METHODSCR was initiated in 1-month-old rats and carried on until the age of 18 months.

RESULTSIn control and CR2 rats an age-related decrease of the aromatase and of ER (alpha and beta) gene expression was observed; in parallel a diminution of testicular weights, and of the total number and motility of epididymal spermatozoa was recorded. In addition, aging in control and CR2 rats was accompanied by a significant decrease in testicular superoxide dismutase, catalase activities, and an increase in lipid peroxidation level (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance), associated with alterations of spermatogenesis. Conversely, caloric restriction-treatment exerted a protective effect and all the parameters were less affected by aging.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that during aging, a low caloric diet (not undernutrition) is beneficial for spermatogenesis and likely improves the protection of the cells via an increase of the cellular antioxidant defense system in which aromatase/ER could play a role.

Age Factors ; Aging ; metabolism ; physiology ; Animals ; Aromatase ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Caloric Restriction ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Malnutrition ; metabolism ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; metabolism ; physiology

Spermiogenesis is a complex process leading to the formation of motile spermatozoa characterized by a highly stable chromatin compaction that transfers the paternal genome into the oocyte. It is commonly held that these haploid cells are devoid of transcriptional and translational activities and that the transcripts represent remnants of stored mRNAs. Recently, the chromatin organization of mature spermatozoa has been revisited as a double nucleoprotamine-nucleohistone structure possessing less-condensed regions sensitive to nuclease activity, which could be implicated in the expression of genes involved in the early embryo development. The existence of a complex population of mRNAs in human sperm is well-documented, but their role is not yet elucidated. Evidence for a latent transcriptional capacity and/or a potential de novo translation in mature spermatozoa from fertile men are essential for understanding the last steps of sperm maturation, such as capacitation and acrosome reaction. As such, we have documented the relationship between sperm quality and the distribution of sperm RNAs by showing divergent levels of transcripts encoding for proteins involved in either nuclear condensation (protamines 1 and 2) or in capacitation (eNOS and nNOS, c-myc) or in motility and sperm survival (aromatase) between low and high motile sperm issued from the same sample. Therefore, analyzing the profile of mRNAs could be helpful either as a diagnostic tool for evaluating male fertility after spermatogenesis or for prognosis use for fertilization.
Chromatin ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Male ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of 17beta-estradiol (E2), peganum harmala extract (PHE) administration and calorie restriction (CR) treatment (60%) on oxidative stress and hepato-toxicity in aged rats.

METHODSEighteen months old animals that were treated at the age of 12 months were divided into 4 groups: normal control group with free access to food, E2 treatment group, PHE treatment group and CR treatment group of the food given to control group. Six male rats at the age of 4 months were used as a reference group.

RESULTSAging significantly decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and increased lactate deshydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glytamyl transferase (GGT), phosphatase alkalines (PAL), aspartate and lactate transaminase (AST and ALT) activities in the liver. Aging also induced an increased lipid peroxidation level, histological changes and a decreased E2 level. However, treatment with E2, PHE, and CR increased 17beta-estradiol, and decreased hepatic dysfunction parameters and lipid peroxidation as well as histological changes in the liver of aged rats.

CONCLUSIONThe antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of PHE and CR is possibly attributed to its ability to increase E2 level, which as an antioxidant, acts as a scavenger of ROS. Further studies on the pharmaceutical functions of E2 in males may contribute to its clinical application.

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Caloric Restriction ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Liver ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peganum ; chemistry ; Phytoestrogens ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

AIMTo investigate the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2), Peganum harmala extract (PHE) and caloric restriction (CR) on various testis parameters during aging.

METHODSTwelve month-old male rats were treated for 6 months with either E2 or PHE, or submitted to CR (40%).

RESULTSOur results show that estrogens and CR are able to protect the male gonad by preventing the decrease of testosterone and E2 levels as well as the decrease of aromatase and estrogen receptor gene expressions. Indeed, E2, PHE and CR treatments induced an increase in the superoxide dismutase activities and decreased the activity of testicular enzymes: gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate deshydrogenase as well as the aspartate and lactate transaminases in aged animals. In addition, the testicular catalase and gluthatione peroxidase activities were enhanced in E2, PHE and CR-treated rats compared to untreated animals at 18 months of age. Moreover, the positive effects of estradiol, PHE and CR were further supported by a lower level of lipid peroxidation. Recovery of spermatogenesis was recorded in treated rats.

CONCLUSIONBesides a low caloric diet which is beneficial for spermatogenesis, a protective antioxydant role of estrogens is suggested. Estrogens delay testicular cell damage, which leads to functional senescence and, therefore, estrogens are helpful in protecting the reproductive functions from the adverse effects exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in large quantities in the aged testis.

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Aromatase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Caloric Restriction ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peganum ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; RNA ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Testis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; growth & development ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; metabolism

AIMTo find an in vitro system for the measurement of the androgenic effects of different extracts of Hibiscus macranthus (Malvaceae) and Basella alba (Basellaceae).

METHODSThe production of testosterone from testes slices incubated in two media, either Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 0.5% Bovine serum albumin (BSA) or Dubecco's Modified Eagle's medium-F12 Ham nutrient mixture (DME/Ham F12), under a mixture of 5% CO2 in 95% air was determined either in the presence or absence of cofactors and Hibiscus macranthus plus Basella alba (HMBA) extracts.

RESULTSThe testosterone production was increased in testes slices incubated in DME/Ham F12 medium in response to the cofactors (49%) and aqueous extracts (34%-60% according to dilutions). Under the same atmospheric conditions, there was no positive response of the testes slices to either cofactor or HMBA extract stimulation in Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 0.5% BSA. In further investigations related to the effect of HMBA, the DME/Ham F12 medium was used. The results obtained from the in vitro test showed that the activity was present mainly in methylene chloride and methanol, since these extracts induced an increase in testosterone production by testes slices.

CONCLUSIONThe testes slice system is suitable to be used for further in vitro investigations of the isolation of androgenic bioactive components of plants.

Animals ; Hibiscus ; chemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; biosynthesis