Journal of Endocrinology and Reproduction

Bisphenol S Exposure Perturbs Epididymis Function of Adult Male Golden Hamster, Mesocricetus auratus

Jitendra Kumar — 2024-08-26

Bisphenols are widely used in industrial and commercial products that exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties. Bisphenol S (BPS) has been reported to show adverse impact on human health. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of BPS on epididymal function in the adult male golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus. Different doses of BPS (25, 50 and 75mg/kg BW/day) were orally administered for 28 days. BPS administration caused a reduction in body and epididymis weight, sperm count and sperm viability. BPS exposure also caused a reduction in the serum testosterone levels, suggesting its impact on testicular steroidogenesis. Further, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase) in the epididymis were markedly decreased, while the levels of lipid peroxidation increased significantly in epididymis of BPStreated hamsters. Epididymides obtained from BPS treated hamsters showed degenerative changes in the caput, corpus and cauda along with a decreased sperm count in the lumen. In conclusion, we demonstrate that exposure to BPS caused oxidative stress in the epididymis, which may lead to impaired reproductive function.

Bioprospecting the Anticancer Efficacy of Garcinia anomala from North-East India in Ovarian Cancer Cells – An In Vitro Study

Gautami Pillai — 2024-08-26

Background: Ovarian cancer is a type of gynaecological cancer with a worldwide prevalence affecting women aged above 50. Despite several advances made in chemotherapy and surgery, the average time of clinical exemption is approximately two years, and the 5-year survival rate is 45%. But even after survival, they have long-term side effects. So, there is an urgent need for natural anticancer drugs. In this context, Garcinia spp. is one such plant that is explored for its anticancer properties. However, the endemic species Garcinia anomala from North-East India has not been studied for anticancer efficacy. Thereby present study aimed to understand the anticancer efficacy of hexane and methanol extracts of Garcinia anomola short mamilla plant available in the North-East region of India with a major emphasis on antioxidant potential. Further, the best extract with higher antioxidant activity was used to evaluate the anticancer potential through modulation of redox status. Methods: Total phenolic content in extract samples was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay was used to assess the antioxidant activities of extracts. For in vitro evaluation of the anticancer potential of the extract, ovarian teratocarcinoma PA1 cells were used as a model to study the dose-dependent effect of the extract. Various assays, such as wound healing assay and transcriptional analysis of genes, such as Bcl-2, PCNA, and TP53, were performed. For the redox parameter, DCFDA (2’,7’-Dichlorofluoroscin Diacetate) assay was used. Results: The results showed that Garcinia anomola methanol extract (EB) exhibited higher antioxidant activity in comparison to the hexane extract (EA). A cytotoxicity assay was performed to find the effective IC₅₀. From this assay, the effective dose concentration confirmed for EA was 40 µg/mL, EB was 20 µg/mL, and the time point selected was 24 hrs. As the IC₅₀ for EB was less than EA, EB was chosen for further assays. From the wound healing assay, the migration rate obtained was 0.967±0.041 µm/hr. The methanol extract was found to affect key cell cycle checkpoint genes at the transcript level. Conclusion: These results indicate that the anticancer potential is mediated through the modulation of antioxidant status. Thus, Garcinia anomala short mamilla extract from northeast India has good efficacy as an anticancer agent, which can be considered as a future potent drug candidate for ovarian cancer.

Evaluation of Hormonal and Biochemical Profile of Ladakhi Cow during Estrous Cycle: The Future Perspective of Reproductive Management of Ladakhi Cow

Preeti Kumari — 2024-08-26

The Ladakhi cow is an indigenous breed from Ladakh, India, and has a unique genetic makeup to adapt to high-altitude hypobaric stress. Furthermore, little study is available on examining the Ladakhi cow’s blood biochemicals and reproductive hormonal status during various stages of the estrus cycle. Hence, the current study was conducted on eight reproductively mature Ladakhi cows at the experimental dairy cattle unit in Leh-Ladakh, India, to determine the changes in serum biochemical and hormonal levels during the estrus cycle. The estrus behaviour was initially observed before the blood sampling on days 0 (the day the cow exhibited heat symptoms), 2^nd, 8^th, 17^th, and 21^st days. The serum was isolated for biochemical and hormonal profiling as per standard procedures using commercially available kits. The results revealed that serum biochemicals, viz. Ca, Fe, ALT, AST, ALP, TG, TP, Albumin, Glucose, UA, Creatinine, and Urea levels were within the normal range of cows at high altitudes. However, reproductive hormones, e.g. GnRH, FSH, LH, progesterone, estrogen, PGF2α, IGF-1, and Insulin varied from the reference level at different stages of the estrus cycle. This study’s findings have provided new insights into the serum biochemical and hormonal profiling of Ladakhi cows during the estrus cycle and this information may help to develop a reference range and baseline value for the serum biochemicals and hormonal levels of Ladakhi cows for other breeding programs and health monitoring.

Anomalous Behavior of Disease-Inflicting Polymorphic Variants of Nuclear Receptor THRβ of Indian Origin

Ghausiya Rehman — 2024-08-26

Thyroid hormone receptor β (THRβ) binds to thyroid hormones to execute various cellular and physiological processes as a ligand-inducible transcriptional factor. THRs, especially THRβ, are key players in the central regulation of the HPT axis. They ensure a delicate balance between thyroid hormone production and feedback control, allowing the body to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Polymorphisms in THRβ can lead to multiple clinical manifestations like resistance to thyroid hormone β, neurological or psychological disorders (like autism, intellectual disabilities, etc), and several types of cancers (papillary thyroid cancer, breast cancer, etc). This study examined two disease-inflicting polymorphic variants of THRβ, P323L, and P453S of Indian origin. It was observed that these variants exhibit impaired subcellular localization patterns, transcriptional functions, and compromised receptor stability. The study provides valuable insight into the cellular mechanism underlying receptor dysfunction and inflicting disease states. It is anticipated that disease-inflicting polymorphic variants of THRβ influence the structural and functional behavior of the receptor, contributing to the onset of disease. A concerted effort to gain the molecular basis of receptor dysregulation will help improve the assessment and management of THRβ-mediated diseases.

Impact of Oxidative Stress on Male Reproduction: Amelioration by Melatonin and Some Selected Food-Grade Antioxidants

Seema Rai — 2024-06-24

Infertility is a common issue. In India, it has doubled in prevalence, raising health issues in both individuals and communities. Couples who are infertile suffer emotionally, socially, and financially. The Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction estimates that there are up to 27.5 million infertile persons living in India, both men and women. Endocrine disruptors, environmental stress, and abnormalities/imbalances in the body’s natural antioxidant defence mechanism all put male fertility at greater risk. Studies on how high altitude affects male fertility are very few. Recent research has shown that oxidative stress from different sources impairs spermatogenesis and causes an imbalance in the level of male hormones. There are two primary causes of oxidative stress: extrinsic and intrinsic, responsible for free-radical generation. There is an internal antioxidant defence mechanism that scavenges the reactive oxygen species, i.e., free radical generation which neutralizes oxidative stress. These antioxidants are important for the protection of cellular integrity. Apart from the antioxidants, various food supplements like melatonin, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, cysteines, etc., are suitable antioxidants for improving male fertility. Therefore, there is a great need for information on some clinically examined edible phytooxidants, including melatonin, for amelioration of oxidative stress-induced male infertility. This review focuses on the information available as of now about free radical (ROS)-induced reproductive damages in the plains and the high-altitude regions and the role of various antioxidants, including melatonin, in male infertility.

Azoospermia: Etiology, Diagnosis and Management

Thomas Vadingadu Munaswamy — 2024-08-26

Male infertility is on the rise over the past few years, and azoospermia is one of the most common causes. It has two primary subtypes: non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), where the spermatogenesis is hindered, and obstructive azoospermia (OA), when there appears to be a ductal obstruction while spermatogenesis is normal. Azoospermia is characterised by the absence of sperm in two or more ejaculates. Making the azoospermic man have his own biological child is now becoming a reality with the advent of TESE and ICSI procedures, followed by the latest advancements like the combination of imaging studies, Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography (FFOCT), stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and gene therapy, which are emerging as newer tools for effective treatment. The key aim of this article is to highlight the concept of azoospermia and focus on its evaluation and management through present-day developments in andrology and medically assisted reproduction (MAR). A detailed literature review is performed through Pubmed, Science Direct, the Online Library, and Scopus.