Cigarette Smoking is Associated with Decreased Sperm Density

Objectives To study the association between cigarette smoking and sperm density in men of reproductive age. Methods We enrolled 224 male employees of a modern petrochemical plant in Nanjing, China. These men had no prior history of infertility or other reproductive diseases. Epidemiologic data, including information on smoking and other occupational and lifestyle exposures were obtained by a questionnaire interview. Semen specimens were collected from each participant and analyzed according to the WHO guidelines. Regression analyses were performed to estimate the effect of smoking on sperm density. Results Approximately 67% of the subjects had ever smoked cigarettes. Different measurements of smoking behavior were each associated with decreased sperm density. There was a significant dose-response trend between the tertites of total smoking amount in pack-years and sperm density. As compared to men who never smoked, current smokers had a significant reduction in sperm density (-13.3×106/ml; 95% CI, - 24. 1, -2. 5) ,while ex-smokers had only a small decrement in sperm density ( -2. 6×106/ml; 95%CI, -18. 7,13. 5). Starting smoking at less than 20 years of age was associated with significant reduction in sperm density (- 14.8×106/ml; 95% CI, - 27. 4, -2. 2). Starting smoking at 20 years or older was associated with a slightly smaller decrease ( -10.1×106/ml; 95% CI,-21.7,1.4). Conclusions Cigarette smoking is associated with decreased sperm density, showing an evident dose-response trend in this population.

Androgenic effect of Mondia whitei roots in male rats

Aim: To determine the effect of the aqueous extract of Mondia whitei (Periplocaceae) roots on testosterone production and fertility of male rats. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were used. In the acute study, 20 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 4 animals each. Four treated groups were administered orally a single dose of Mondia whitei (400 mg/kg) and the controls received a similar amount of distilled water. One group of animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 1,2,4 and 6 h after treatment, respectively. The controls were sacrificed at 6 h. Testicular testosterone was determined by radioimmunoassay. In the chronic study, 28 rats were divided at random into 4 groups of 7 animals each: Groups 1, 2 and 3 were given orally the plant extract (400 mg·kg-1·day-1) for 2, 4 and 8 days, respectively. The animals of Groups 1 and 2 were sacrificed 24 hours after the last dosing. The controls (Group 4) received the same amount of distilled water for 8 days. The fertility was assessed only in Groups 3 and 4 and after that, the animals were sacrificed and the epididymal sperm density, the serum testosterone and the testicular testosterone and 17β-estradiol were assayed. The serum, testicular and epidydimal protein contents were also determined. Results: In the acute treatment groups, the serum and testicular concentrations of testosterone remained unchanged at all the time points. Chronic treatment for 8 days induced a significant increase in the testicular weight, the serum and testicular testosterone, the testicular protein content and the sperm density (P<0.05-0.01), but did not affect the accessory gland weights, the serum protein contents, the testicular concentration of 17β-estradiol and the fertility compared to the controls. Conclusion: Mondia whitei root extract possesses an androgenic property.

Effects of Boesenbergia rotunda （L.） Mansf. on sexual behaviour of male rats

Aim： To study the effects of Boesenbergia rotunda （Krachai） on sexual behaviour in male albino rats. Methods： Thirty-two male Wistar rats were equally divided into four groups： experimental groups were gavaged with the ethanolic extract of the rhizome of B. rotunda at doses of 60, 120 and 240 mg/kg and a control group received distilled water, for 60 days. Sexual behaviour, reproductive organs, diameter of seminiferous tubule, epididymal sperm density, and androgenic hormones were evaluated. Results： Within 30-min observation, there was no significant difference of courtship behaviour, mount frequency （MF）, intromission frequency （IF）, mount latency （ML）, intromission latency （IL）, copulatory efficiency or intercopulatory interval in male rats. In three 10-min intervals over a 30-min period, courtship behaviour and MF during the first 10-min were significantly higher than those in the second and third i0-min observation in all groups, whereas IF had no significant difference. All doses of B. rotunda extract significantly increased the relative testicular weight and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules. The dose of 60 mg/kg also significantly increased the relative weight of the seminal vesicle. Nevertheless, the sperm density, serum testosterone and androstenedione levels were not affected by the B. rotunda extract. Conclusion： B. rotunda does not affect sexual behaviour nor serum androgenic levels.

Semen Quality Assessment of Suyou Ⅰ Duck

[Objective] This paper was to establish a method for quality assessment of Suyou Ⅰ duck. [Method] Semen was collected from 20 healthy drakes using back massage method,to determine semen volume,sperm motility,sperm density,sperm morphology and semen quality factor( SQF) of each individual.[Result]Semen was successfully collected from 15 out of 20 ducks. The results of semen quality assessment showed that the semen volume,sperm density,sperm motility,normal morphology ratio and SQF were( 0. 17 ± 0. 05) mL,( 25. 52 ± 4. 73) × 10~8 sperm/mL,( 0. 86 ± 0. 10),( 86. 93 ± 2. 13) % and( 387. 5 ±129. 25),respectively. The abnormal sperm ratio was( 13. 07 ±2. 13) %,among which the percentages of bent sperm,huge head sperm and damaged sperm were( 7. 70 ± 1. 97) %,( 2. 53 ± 1. 06) % and( 2. 83 ± 0. 79) %,respectively. [Conclusion]Semen quality of Suyou Ⅰ duck is generally high,and could be applied in the production and breeding.