Obesity is an energy balance disorder associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and diabetes type 2, also summarized with the term metabolic syndrome or syndrome X. Increasing evidence points to “adipocyte dysfunction”, rather than fat mass accretion per se, as the key pathophysiological factor for metabolic complications in obesity. The dysfunctional fat tissue in obesity characterizes a failure to safely store metabolic substrates into existing hypertrophied adipocytes and/or into new preadipocytes recruited for differentiation. In this review we briefly summarize the potential of redox imbalance in fat tissue as an instigator of adipocyte dysfunction in obesity. We reveal the challenge of the adipose redox changes, insights in the regulation of healthy expansion of adipose tissue and its reduction, leading to glucose and lipids overflow.

The strong therapeutic potential of an organotin(IV) compound loaded in nanostructured silica (SBA-15pSn) is demonstrated: B16 melanoma tumor growth in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice is almost completely abolished. In contrast to apoptosis as the basic mechanism of the anticancer action of numerous chemotherapeutics, the important advantage of this SBA-15pSn mesoporous material is the induction of cell differentiation, an effect unknown for metal-based drugs and nanomaterials alone. This non-aggressive mode of drug action is highly efficient against cancer cells but is in the concentration range used nontoxic for normal tissue. JNK (Jun-amino-terminal kinase)-independent apoptosis accompanied by the development of the melanocyte-like nonproliferative phenotype of survived cells indicates the extraordinary potential of SBA-15pSn to suppress tumor growth without undesirable compensatory proliferation of malignant cells in response to neighboring cell death.

These data suggest that nitric oxide (NO) produced by iNOS could also contribute to overall NO-associated regulation of thermogenesis in IBAT. Namely, that iNOS, i.e. NO, in correlation with enhanced thermogenesis, additionally induced IBAT hyperplasia and UCP1 level compared to that induced by low temperature. Cooperative action of decreased apoptosis accompanied by increased tissue hyperplasia and UCP1 level, observed in IBAT of cold-acclimated rats, would be a way of meeting the metabolic requirements for increased thermogenesis.

Infertility is a global problem that is on the rise, especially during the last decade. Currently, infertility affects approximately 10-15% of the population worldwide. The frequency and origin of different forms of infertility varies. It has been shown that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) are involved in the aetiology of infertility, especially male infertility. Various strategies have been designed to remove or decrease the production of ROS and RNS in spermatozoa, in particular during in vitro fertilization. However, in recent years it has been shown that spermatozoa naturally produce a variety of ROS/RNS, including superoxide anion radical (O2 ·− ), hydrogen peroxide and NO. These reactive species, in particular NO, are essential in regulating sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction, two processes that need to be acquired by sperm in order to achieve fertilization potential. In addition, it has recently been shown that mitochondrial function is positively correlated with human sperm fertilization potential and quality and that NO and NO precursors increase sperm motility by increasing energy production in mitochondria. We will review the new link between sperm NO-driven redox regulation and infertility herein. A special emphasis will be placed on the potential implementation of new redox-active substances that modulate the content of NO in spermatozoa to increase fertility and promote conception. LINKED ARTICLESThis article is part of a themed section on Pharmacology of the Gasotransmitters. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10. 1111/bph.2015.172.issue-6 Abbreviations AR, acrosome reaction; EDRF, endothelial-derived relaxing factor; eNOS, endothelial NOS; ETC, electron transport chain; iNOS, inducible NOS; IVF, in vitro fertilization; L-NAME, N G -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; MMP, mitochondrial membrane potential; mtNOS, mitochondrial NOS; NG, nitroglycerine; nNOS, neuronal NOS; O2 ·− , superoxide anion radical; RNS, reactive nitrogen species; ROS, reactive oxygen species; sGC, soluble GC; SNP, sodium nitroprusside; SOD, superoxide dismutase; ZP, zona pellucida IntroductionInfertility is one of the most serious medical problems worldwide. The prevalence of infertility is on the rise, especially during the last decade. Globally, one of six to seven couples worldwide currently has some difficulty with conception (Sharma et al., 2013). Infertility is usually defined as the inability to conceive after 1 year of regular unprotected intercourse, but in couples in which the female partner is >35 years of age, infertility is diagnosed after an inability to conceive for 6 months (Cooper et al., 2010). Although the frequency and origin of infertility varies, it has been established that nearly 40% of the issues involved with infertility are attributable to a male factor, another 40% due to a female factor, and 20% result from combined male and female factors (Sharlip et al., 2002). Over the past decade, significant advances have occurred in the diagnosis an...

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