ABSTRACT

        Background and Objectives: sperm motility mainly depends on aerobic glycolysis, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a key enzyme in the last step of this process. On the other hand, fructose is considered as the main energy source for sperm motility. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the LDH activity and fructose levels and their correlation with sperm motion parameters in normospermic and asthenozospermic males.

       Methods: In this case-control study, 96 normospermic and 96 asthenozospermic males were enrolled.  The semen samples were analyzed by computer assisted semen analysis to identify sperm motion parameters. Seminal plasma fructose levels were measured using Seliwanoff's test. LDH activity in the samples was evaluated using commercially available kits. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16).

       Results: The levels of LDH activity and fructose concentration were not different between the two groups. There was no correlation found between LDH activity and fructose concentration or sperm motility parameters. However, LDH was significantly correlated with sperm concentration in both groups.

      Conclusion: Although LDH activity and fructose levels seem to be influenced by sperm motility, other factors such as sperm concentration and total sperm count can also affect their seminal plasma levels. Thus, when the sperm concentrations are equal in study groups, the level of these factors are expected to be equal.

         Keywords: Lactate Dehydrogenase, Fructose, Sperm Motility, CASA.

ABSTRACT

          Background and Objectives: Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders, which is associated with changes in testicular tissue. The present study investigated therapeutic and prophylactic properties of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) juice on testicular tissue and spermatogenesis process.

          Methods: Forty streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats aged three months with mean weight of 170-200 g were divided into 4 groups including 1) control group, 2) diabetic control group, 3) diabetic group receiving 100mg/kg C. aurantium extract and 4) diabetic group receiving 200 mg/kg C. aurantium extract. The extract was administered to the rats for 56 days by gavage. After this period, the rats were anesthetized with ether and then their testes were fixed in 10% formalin for sample preparation. The testicular tissue was examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining under a light microscope with 10 and 40 magnifications. The mean number of Leydig and Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids were calculated.

           Results: A significant decrease was observed in mean weight of left testis in diabetic rats compared to that of controls (P≤0.05). The mean weight of testes showed no significant difference in diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg of extract compared with the control group. Diabetes reduced the number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and Sertoli cells. The number of cells increased significantly in the diabetic group receiving 200 mg/kg of extract. The spermatocytes and spermatids in both groups treated with the extract increased significantly.

          Conclusion: This study shows the positive effect of bitter orange extract on complications of diabetes in testicular tissue. Therefore, this extract could be used for therapeutic purposes.