Mehran Dorostghoal, Seyyed Mansour Seyyednejad, Ayoob Jabari,
Volume 21, Issue 3 (6-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Recently, there is increasing concern about the declining of male reproductive health. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism contributed in reproductive system failure. Dorema aucheri that is being used in Persian folk medicine has been supposed to have male fertility-enhancing properties. Present study was done to evaluate the impacts of Dorema aucheri on oxidative status and reproductive parameters in male rats.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, healthy adult male Wistar rats were treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of ethanolic D. aucheri leaves extract via gavage for 70 days. Blood samples were collected for analysis of testosterone, LH and FSH serum levels. Reproductive organs weight, density, motility and morphology of spermatozoa, seminiferous tubules diameter, germinal epithelium height and also testicular levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated.
Findings: Significant (p<0.05) increases were seen in the testis and epididymis weights of male rats treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg D. aucheri extract. In rats treated with D. aucheri extract sperm density and percent of morphologically normal sperm were significantly (p<0.05) higher. No significant differences were seen in serum testosterone, FSH and LH levels between D. aucheri extract-treated groups and controls. D. aucheri significantly (p<0.05) reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and also increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in testicular tissue of rats.
Conclusion: Present study indicates that D. aucheri leaves extract has beneficial effects on reproductive parameters in male rats which might be a consequence of its antioxidant properties. |
Roya Fatemi Nejad, Mohammad Reza Dayer, Mehran Dorostghoal, Mohammad Reza Parishani,
Volume 28, Issue 4 (10-2025)
Abstract
Introduction: Botulinum neurotoxin protein (Botox) is widely used for cosmetic purposes to reduce facial wrinkles without regard to its side effects. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Botox on blood biochemical factors and the kidney tissue structure of female rats.
Methods: In this study, 28 adult female Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n = 7). The first three groups received intraperitoneal injections of Botox (in the lower third of the abdomen, one centimeter below and to the left of the navel) at doses of 4, 6, and 8 units, respectively, while the fourth group (the control group) received a saline injection. Then the animals were kept in the animal house for three months with full access to food and water at a temperature of 22°C and a 12-hour light-dark cycle. Following a 24-hour fasting period at the end of the study, blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture under ether anaesthesia. Then, the animals were euthanized without pain, and their kidney tissue samples were extracted for histological examination.
Results: Biochemical results indicated a significant increase in serum creatinine levels following injection with 6 and 8 units of Botox, indicating renal impairment. Although the increase in the amount of serum uric acid levels compared to the control group did not reach statistical significance at the 95% confidence level (P < 0.05), it showed significance at the 94% level (p < 0.06), suggesting primary renal damage. Histopathological examination demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of 8 units of Botox induced scattered and limited structural alterations in renal tissue, including vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelial cells.
Conclusions: The results of this research show that the long-term and repeated use of Botox may cause significant renal damage in addition to local lesions and threaten a person's life.
