Background: Hesperetin is a bioflavonoid compound, largely used in Chinese traditional medicine and found plenty in citrus fruits. Hesperetin has beneficial effects against different diseases. The sperm cryopreservation process is a common method that is used in infertility laboratories. It has been reported that during the cryopreservation process, the quality of sperm is significantly reduced. Objective: To investigate the effect of hesperetin on the quality of human spermatozoa during the cryopreservation process. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 22 sperm sample of normozoospermia men who referred to the infertility department of the Shariati Hospital (Tehran, Iran) Between October and November 2019 were collect and divided into three groups as: 1) fresh, 2) control (frozen-thawed group without treatment), and 3) treatment group as frozen-thawed samples supplemented with 20 μM hesperetin. Motility, Viability, morphology, Apoptotic-like changes, intracellular H2O2, intracellular O2−, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was measured. Results: Hesperetin treatment during the cryopreservation process of human sperm significantly improved the viability, motility, and morphology rates of the spermatozoa after frozen-thawed process in control group (p < 0.01). In addition, it significantly reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, LPO level and increased the percentage of viable sperm cells with intact plasma membrane (p < 0.01) after frozen-thawed process. Conclusion: Hesperetin can improve the quality of human sperm and also protect human sperm against reactive oxygen species, LPO, and apoptosis during the cryopreservation-thawing process. Key words: Cryopreservation, Hesperetin, Spermatozoa, Reactive oxygen species.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) seed as a plant, the consumption of which has been recommended in Islam, on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 36 Wistar female rats (3 wk, 60 ± 10 gr). Then rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 6/each): control; PCOSinduced (DHEA 60 mg/kg/sc); PCOS + Metformine (30 mg/kg); and three experimental groups receiving DHEA + hydroalcoholic extract of N. sativa seeds in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Blood samples were taken for the evaluation of sexual hormones, oxidative stress, glucose, and insulin after 30 days of treatment. Ovarian tissue was used for histopathological study. Results: The serum levels of luteinizing hormone, testosterone, glucose, insulin resistance, malondialdehyde, and insulin (p ≤ 0.001) and estrogen increased while the levels of progesterone (p = 0.01) and antioxidant enzymes in the PCOS group decreased (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: The administration of the N. sativa extract to the PCOS rats resulted in remarkable changes in the serumic factors relative to the PCOS group. In addition, the extract improved the structure of the ovarian tissue in the PCOS rat. The histopathological results which are in accordance with biochemical findings imply that N. sativa seed could be useful in the treatment of PCOS, the higher doses of the extract being more effective. Key words: Nigella sativa seed, Oxidative stress, Insulin resistance, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Rat.

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This study provides the first evidence on the significant effect of vitrification on follicular apoptosis of grafted human ovarian tissue at mRNA level. The signs of follicular survival or degeneration detected by morphological assessment and caspase-3/7 activity were closely correlated to the changes in expression of apoptosis-related genes.

A fast, sensitive and simple method using multi wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) coated with dithiooxamide as nanostructure sorbent has been effectively established for extraction and pre‐concentration of trace amounts of cobalt ions before their determination by FAAS (flame atomic absorption spectrometry). Modified MWCNT was synthesized by the reaction of dithiooxamide with functionalized MWCNT. Initially, the surface of MWCNT was oxidized by a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acid and then was functionalized using thionyl chloride, following the ligand was attached to the MWCNT. The properties of nanostructure sorbent were characterized by SEM, BET, TGA, elemental analysis CHNS and FT‐IR techniques. Some effective parameters on extraction and complex formation, such as pH, modified MWCNT dosage, concentration and type of eluent, contacting time, salt effect and sample volume have been optimized. We achieved the calibration graph in linear range of 3–2000 ng mL−1 with limit of detection (LOD) of 0.64 ng mL−1. Relative standard deviation (RSD) for Co (II) ions is calculated to be 2.2 %. The projected technique has been used to assay of cobalt ions at ng mL−1 levels in real samples such as tomato, potato, wheat flour, red beans, oat, tap water, river water and seawater with suitable fallouts.