Effect of Egyptian propolis on cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed rats with special emphasis on oocysts shedding,leukogram,protein profile and ileum histopathology

Objective:To investigate the activity of Egyptian propolis extracts(ethanol and water)on cryptosporidiosis in experimentally infected dexamethasone-immunosuppressed rats.Methods:A total of 180 male rats(190-220)g BWt were randomly divided into 9 equal groups(G1-G9).Groups of rats were kept as(G1):normal control,(G2-G9):immunosuppressed with dexamethasone and(G3-G9):infected with Cryptosporidium oocysts.Rats from(G4to G9)were given orally ethanol and water extract of propolis(at a dose of 50 mg/kg BWt)and nitazoxanide(standard anti-cryptosporidial drug at a dose of 100 mg/kg BWt)to infected rats with different regimes.Faecal pellets were collected from all groups to monitor oocysts shedding from the 2nd to the 15th day post infection.At the end of the experiment,blood was collected from all groups for determination of leukogram and serum proteins.Ileum specimens were also examined histopathologically.Results:The highest reduction of oocysts shedding in faecal samples was 88%in rats prophylactically treated with propolis ethanol extract at the 4th dpi,and in rats prophylactically treated with water extract of propolis,was91%at the 6th dpi.There was a marked increase in neutrophils count and α_2-andβ-globulins levels in infected rats treated with both extracts,while a significant decrease was detected in lymphocytes compared to the infected non treated group.β-globulin level markedly increased in the rats administered nitazoxanide.Histopathological changes were observed in the ileum of rats infected with Cryptosporidium.Conclusions:Egyptian propolis extracts have an activity on cryptosporidiosis in rats.Moreover,propolis modulated the immunity in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed rats.

Effect of paclitaxel and resveratrol on New Zealand rabbit semen

Objective:To examine the effects of paclitaxel and resveratrol on rabbit semen.Methods:This study consisted of four groups: control group (40 mL saline), paclitaxel group (5 mg/kg paclitaxel), resveratrol group (4 mg/kg resveratrol) and paclitaxel+resveratrol group (5 mg/kg paclitaxel+4 mg/kg resveratrol). Administrations werei.v.(in 40 mL saline) and continued 8 weeks. Sperm motility was evaluated using phase-contrast microscopy. Mitochondrial activity, membrane and acrosome integrity were performed by fluorescence staining. Lipid peroxidation, total glutathione and antioxidant potential levels were determined by spectrophotometry.Results: Paclitaxel decreased the sperm motility and fluorescence staining results compared to the control (P<0.05). The paclitaxel and resveratrol group showed better results of the same parameters compared to the paclitaxel group (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in lipid peroxidation, total glutathione, antioxidant potential and fertility results (P>0.05). Results of this study showed that paclitaxel decreased semen parameters and resveratrol had a protective effect on these parameters.Conclusions:Paclitaxel has negative effects on spermatological indicators and biochemical assays, while resveratrol prevents these negative effects of paclitaxel.

Effect of taxifolin on cold-shock damages in spermatozoa in rabbits

Objective:To investigate the effect of taxifolin added to rabbit semen on freezing-induced cold-shock damages in spermatozoa.Methods:Semen was collected from six adult New Zealand rabbits once a week by artificial vagina.The collected semen was pooled at 38℃ and divided into four equal volumes.They were diluted with 0,50,100 and 200μM taxifolin-containing Tris+egg yolk extender at 38℃ and their temperatures were lowered to 4℃.Following equilibration,semen drawn into 0.25 mL straws were frozen in an automatic semen freezing device and stored in liquid nitrogen container at-196℃.Samples were thawed in 38℃ water for 25 s and the analyses of motility,kinematic parameters,morphological deformities,changes in membrane integrity,mitochondrial membrane potential,dead-live ratio,acrosomal damages and as well as oxidative stress analyses were performed in semen.Results:Addition of 50μM taxifolin significantly improved motility(total,progressive,rapid and static),high mitochondrial membrane potential and the ratios of spermatozoa with acrosomal damage compared to the control group.Compared to the control group,malondialdehyde(MDA)levels in the 50 and 100μM taxifolin groups were significantly lower,while the MDA level was high and viable spermatozoa ratio was low in the 200μM taxifolin group.There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of kinematic parameters,morphological deformities,membrane integrity and antioxidant levels.Conclusions:The low dose of taxifolin(50μM)has a positive effect and the high dose(200μM)has a negative effect.Therefore,it is concluded that the addition of low-dose(50μM)taxifolin to the extenders would be a useful additive in reducing cold-shock damage that occurs during freezing of rabbit semen.

The in-vivo assessment of Turkish propolis and its nano form on testicular damage induced by cisplatin

Objective: Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin(CP), which are associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis, may adversely affect the reproductive system. This study tests whether administration of propolis and nano-propolis(NP) can alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats with testicular damage induced by CP.Methods: In this study, polymeric nanoparticles including propolis were synthesized with a green sonication method and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-EmmettTeller, and wet scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. In total, 56 rats were divided into the following seven groups: control, CP, propolis, NP-10, CP + propolis, CP + NP-10, and CP + NP-30.Propolis(100 mg/kg), NP-10(10 mg/kg), and NP-30(30 mg/kg) treatments were administered by gavage daily for 21 d, and CP(3 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose. After the experiment,oxidative stress parameters, namely, malondialdehyde(MDA), glutathione(GSH), glutathione peroxidase(GPx), and catalase(CAT), and apoptotic pathways including B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 protein(Bcl-2)and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax) were measured in testicular tissues. Furthermore, sperm quality and weights of the testis, epididymis, right cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were evaluated.Results: Propolis and NP(especially NP-30) were able to preserve oxidative balance(decreased MDA levels and increased GSH, CAT, and GPx activities) and activate apoptotic pathways(decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2) in the testes of CP-treated rats. Sperm motility in the control, CP, and CP + NP-30 groups were 60%, 48.75%, and 78%, respectively(P<0.001). Especially, NP-30 application completely corrected the deterioration in sperm features induced by CP.Conclusion: The results show that propolis and NP treatments mitigated the side effects of CP on spermatogenic activity, antioxidant situation, and apoptosis in rats.