ObjectiveWe evaluate the effects ofThymus algeriensis (TEO) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) toxicity on body and testis weight, testis sperm count, testis lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats.
MethodsRats were treated with low (LD) and high dose (HD) of H2O2 (0.1 and 1 mmol/L) in the presence or absence of TEO (150 mg/kg).
ResultsThe results exhibited a significant decrease in body weight and testis weight, in total sperm number decrease (P<0.05), sperm motility and percentage of sperm viability, leading to complete arrest, in sperm flagellar beat frequency by the gavage of 1 mmol/L H2O2 compared to controls.The administration of H2O2 resulted in a significant reduction in testis GSH, GPx, CAT, SOD, and GST activity andsignificant increase (P<0.05) in MDAconcentration compared with the untreated control animals. TEO pre-treatment protected testis from the H2O2generated oxidative stress.These results were confirmed byhistological architecture examinations.
ConclusionH2O2 has the ability to alter the sperm function, characteristics and development of testis. However, TEO is an efficient natural agent, which can prevent the testis from H2O2-induced oxidative damage in rats.

AIM To study the role of lipid peroxides reaction on hepatic ischemia damage and the protective effects ofantioxidants (TMP, co-Q10).MgTHODS Twenty-four adult dogs were performed portacaval shunt and randomly put into 3 groups:group 1 (control group); 8 dogs with portacaval shunt (PCS group); group 2:8 dogs with portacaval shuntand only given antioxidants -TMP (ligustrazine) (PCS + TMP group); group 3:8 dogs with portacaval shuntand given antioxidants in combination with co-Q10, TMP and co-Q10 (PCS + TMP + co-Q10 group). Drugusage: TMP, 50 mg/ kg/ isolation day; coenzyme Q10, 1.5 mg/kg/isolation day; PCS + TMP, given up atthe end of 4 weeks after operation; and PCS + TMP + co-Q10, given up at the end of 8 weeks afteroperation. The experiment indices: super-peroxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), ALT,AST, AKP were all measured before operation, and 8 weeks after operation. The liver tissues were obtainedin the 4th week and 8th week respectively after operation and the changes of hepatic structures were observedunder light and electronic microscope.RESULTS There were obvious increase of MDA and decrease of SOD in PCS group, which was remarkablydifferent from pre-operation (P<0.01). In PCS + TMP group, there was no difference between pre-operation and within 4 weeks after operation (P>0.05). But it was remarkably different from PCS group(P<0.01). Beginning from the 5th week after operation, we stopped TMP (ligustrazine), as a result, theobvious increase of MDA, rapid decrease of SOD were found, but not different from PCS group (P >0.05).In PCS+ TMP+ co-QlO group, MDA increased slightlly, and SOD decreated, but it was superior to that inPCS and PCS + TMP groups. The data in PCS + TMP + co-Q10 group had statistical significance compared tothat in PCS+ TMP group (P<0.05) during 4 weeks after operation; but from the 5th to 8th week, there wasa remarkable difference (P<0.01). The results of ALT, AST and AKP showed remarkable differencebetween PCS + TMP + co-Q10, PCS group (P<0.01) and PCS + TMP compared to PCS + TMP + co-Q10(P<0.05). After stopping TMP, PCS + TMP were compared with PCS + TMP + co-Q10 (P<0.01). Thechanges in liver structures were fatty degeneration, atrophy and necrosis; decrease in rough surfacedendoplasmic reticulum (PER), mitochondrial swelling, partial mitochondria fusion, disappearance ofmitochondrial crista, diminution of Golgi body. The structures of liver cells in PCS + TMP and PCS + TMP +co-Q10 groups were superior to that in PCS group; but in the 8th week after operation, the liver structuralchanges bad no difference between PCS + TMP and PCS group. The results of light electronic microscopy inPCS + TMP + co-Q10 were better than that in PCS and PCS + TMP groups.CONCLUSION The over-activated lipid peroxides reaction may be one of the important factors of hepaticischemia damage after portacaval shunt; combined use of the antioxidants can enhance the protection fromthe hepatic ischemia damage.

Of the three cardinal manifestations of chronic pancreatitispain, diabetes mellitus and steatorrhea, it is pain that brings the patient to the physician and is the most difficult to manage. The intractabale pain that is quite debilitating disrupts lifestyle and leads to functional incapacity, drug and alcohol dependency, and a drug-seeking behavior that occasionally might push the desperate patient to suicidal tendency. Painless CP is an exception that has been observed in nearly 5% to 10% of patients with all forms of chronic pancreatitis. Lack of pain is also a feature of the late onset idiopathic CP.

Excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause a state of oxidative stress, which result in sperm membrane lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and apoptosis, leading to decreased sperm viability and motility. Elevated levels of ROS are a major cause of idiopathic male factor infertility, which is an increasingly common problem today. Lycopene, the most potent singlet oxygen quencher of all carotenoids, is a possible treatment option for male infertility because of its antioxidant properties. By reacting with and neutralizing free radicals, lycopene could reduce the incidence of oxidative stress and thus, lessen the damage that would otherwise be inlficted on spermatozoa. It is postulated that lycopene may have other beneifcial effects via nonoxidative mechanisms in the testis, such as gap junction communication, modulation of gene expression, regulation of the cell cycle and immunoenhancement. Various lycopene supplementation studies conducted on both humans and animals have shown promising results in alleviating male infertility-lipid peroxidation and DNA damage were decreased, while sperm count and viability, and general immunity were increased. Improvement of these parameters indicates a reduction in oxidative stress, and thus the spermatozoa is less vulnerable to oxidative damage, which increases the chances of a normal sperm fertilizing the egg. Human trials have reported improvement in sperm parameters and pregnancy rates with supplementation of 4-8 mg of lycopene daily for 3-12 months. However, further detailed and extensive research is still required to determine the dosage and the usefulness of lycopene as a treatment for male infertility.

过氧化物、商业化抗氧化剂、红棕榈油对精子活力的体外作用

Objective To investigate whether antioxidants inhibit adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium and furthermore, whether all antioxidants regulate NF-κB activation through a redox sensitive mechanism. Methods The effect of the antioxidative substances pyrrolidin dithiocarbamat (PDTC),dichloroisocumarin (DCI), chrysin and probucol on the endothelial leukocyte adhesion were examined under near physiological flow conditions. The antioxidative activity of antioxidants was measured in a DCF fluorescence assay with flow cytometry. The activation of NF-κB in endothelial cells was investigated in a gel shift assay. Results PDTC and probucol did not show an inhibitory effect to the formation of intracellular H2O2 in TNFct activated human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) . Chrysin showed a moderate effect.DCI showed a strong antioxidative effect. In contrast,PDTC and chrysin inhibited the adhesion of HL 60 cells to TNFa-stimulated HUVEC. DCI and probucol did not have influence on the adhesion within the area of the examined shear stresses. Only PDTC inhibited the TNFα-induced activation of NF-kB in endothelial cells.Conclusion The inhibition of the endothelial leukocyte adhesion by antioxidative substances is not to be explained by its antioxidative characteristics only. The inhibitory effect of PDTC on NF-kB activation was probably not related to its antioxidative properties.