Male fertility is strongly affected by the overexpression of free radicals induced by heavy metals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gonado-protective effects of natural compounds. Biochemical and morphological assays were performed on male albino rats divided into five groups: a control group (water only), a group orally exposed to a metal mixture of Pb-Cd-Hg-As alone and three groups co-administered the metal mixture and an aqueous extract of the Nigerian medicinal plant, (, ), at three different concentrations (500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg) for 60 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOrexins A (OXA) and B (OXB) and the receptors 1 (OX1R) and 2 (OX2R) for orexins are hypothalamic peptides found in several mammalian organs and participated to the control of a wide assortment of physiological and pathological functions. The distribution of OXA and OX1R has been extensively studied in the male gonad of mammals. Here, we examined the expression and localization of OXB and OX2R as well as their possible involvement in the regulation of testicular and epididymal functions, in healthy and cryptorchid dogs, employing some techniques such as immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time RT-PCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOrexin A (OxA) is a neuropeptide produced in the lateral hypothalamus that performs pleiotropic functions in different tissues, including involvement in energy homeostasis and reproductive neuroendocrine functions. The role of OxA is particularly important given the well-studied relationships between physiological mechanisms controlling energy balance and reproduction. The enzyme P450 aromatase (ARO) helps convert androgens to estrogens and has roles in steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and energy metabolism in several organs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe steroidogenic enzyme P450 aromatase (ARO) has a key role in the conversion of testosterone (T) into estrogens (E), expressed as 17β-estradiol. The presence and localization of this key enzyme have not been described before in the South American camelid alpaca (Vicugna pacos). In our previous studies of the expression and biological effects of orexin A (OxA) and OxB on the alpaca testis demonstrated that OxA, via its specific receptor 1 (OX1R), stimulated T synthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cryptorchidism is one of the most common birth disorders of the male reproductive system identified in dogs and other mammals. This condition is characterised by the absence of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) gonads from the scrotum. The peptides orexin A (OxA) and B (OxB) were obtained by post-transcriptional proteolytic cleavage of a precursor molecule, called prepro-orexin.
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