Association of the infusion of Heteropterys aphrodisiaca and endurance training brings spermatogenetic advantages

Abstract

The species Heteropterys aphrodisiaca is commonly used as a stimulant by popular medicine in the Cerrado, a savanna-like biome, Brazil. Recent studies have proved its protective effects on testes of animals submitted to treatment using Cyclosporine A, as well as its stimulus effect in increasing testosterone secretion. Therefore, the present study was designed to analyze whether the association of the plant infusion and endurance exercise could potentiate the stimulating effect. The animals were separated into 4 groups: two control (sedentary and trained) receiving water and two treated (sedentary and trained) receiving the plant infusion daily (104mg/day). The proportion of the seminiferous tubule compartment and interstitium was analyzed. Within the seminiferous epithelium, the number of Sertoli and germ cells were counted in order to evaluate whether the treatment would alter the spermatogenic dynamics, analyzing: the spermatogenic yield, the mitotic and meiotic indexes, the total number of germ cells and the Sertoli cell support capacity. Trained and treated animals showed increased spermatogenic yield and spermatogonia mitosis, and no signifi cant differences in apoptotic indexes. Despite the results showing the same pattern regarding yield and mitotic index, the meiotic index was higher in the sedentary/treated group. Therefore, the H. aphrodisiaca infusion increased both the testosterone production and the spermatogonia mitosis, thus increasing the spermatogenic yield.

Grape juice concentrate (G8000®) intake mitigates testicular morphological and ultrastructural damage following cadmium intoxication

“…The relative testis weight, known as the gonadosomatic index (GSI), was calculated relating total testis weight and total BW (Gomes et al . ). To obtain a more precise parenchyma weight, the albuginea weight was subtracted.…”

“…The BW gain was obtained by subtracting the animal weights at the end of the experiment from their initial weights. The relative testis weight, known as the gonadosomatic index (GSI), was calculated relating total testis weight and total BW (Gomes et al 2011). To obtain a more precise parenchyma weight, the albuginea weight was subtracted.…”

Colon cancer and swimming exercise: effect on wistar rat testes

“…The tunica albuginea was removed from only one testis to obtain the weight of testicular parenchyma and albuginea. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated as a percentage of body mass represented by the testes [GSI = Testes weight x 100 / body weight] (Monteiro et al 2008;Costa et al 2011;Gomes et al 2011) Preparation of tissue for light microscopy One testis was dissected and fixed in 10% formalin. Testicular fragments were dehydrated and embedded in hydroxyethyl methacrylate (Historesin ® , Leica).…”

“…Testicular fragments were dehydrated and embedded in hydroxyethyl methacrylate (Historesin ® , Leica). Sections (3 µm thick) were obtained and stained with toluidine blue/1% sodium borate (Monteiro et al 2008;Costa et al 2011;Freitas et al 2011;Gomes et al 2011). …”

“…Testicular density is around 1 (França 1991), thus, the testicular parenchyma volume had the same value as its weight. Tubule-somatic index (TSI) was calculated by the ratio between the seminiferous tubule volume and body mass, the result being multiplied by 100 Freitas et al 2011;Gomes et al 2011). The tubular diameter was measured in 10 seminiferous tubule sections with circular transections.…”