Effect of Isoflavones on Reproductive Performance, Testosterone Levels, Lipid Peroxidation, and Seminal Plasma Biochemistry of Male Rabbits

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of either 2.5 mg/kg Body Weight or 5 mg/kg Body Weight (BW) doses of isoflavones on semen quality, testosterone levels, lipid peroxidation and semen biochemistry of male New Zealand White rabbits. Animals were given both 2.5 mg/kg BW and 5 mg/kg BW doses of isoflavones. The tested doses were given to rabbits orally every other day for 13 weeks. Treatment with isoflavones caused an increase (p < 0.05) in libido (by decreasing the reaction time), sperm concentration, sperm motility (%), total motile sperm per ejaculate (TMS), packed sperm volume (PSV), total functional sperm fraction (TFSF), total sperm output, initial fructose concentration and normal sperm, while dead sperm was reduced compared to control animals. On the other hand, ejaculate volume, initial hydrogen ion concentration (pH) and plasma testosterone levels did not change in treated animals with both doses of isoflavones as compared to control. Concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), total lipids, and low density lipoprotein were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in seminal plasma of rabbits treated with either 2.5 mg/kg BW or 5 mg/kg BW doses of isoflavones. While, the activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), acid phosphatase (AcP), and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in seminal plasma of treated animals. Also, total cholesterol, percentage cholesterol (out of total lipids), and high density lipoprotein were significantly (p < 0.05) increased, while triglyceride did not change in seminal plasma of treated animals. Supplementation at either level of isoflavones did not cause changes in live body weight (LBW), dry matter intake (DMI), and relative weights of testes and epididymis. The present results showed that either 2.5 mg/kg BW or 5 mg/kg BW doses of isoflavones caused an improvement of some semen characteristics and did not have negative effects on male fertility.

Effects of soy isoflavones on intake, body weight, sex hormones, antioxidant performance, and semen quality in Xinong Saanen goats

“…It is advisable that further study on molecular mechanism of SI oxidation resistance could be carried out in vivo and in vitro. It had been reported that after treated with high dose SI for 12 months, morphological and histopathologic assessment of testis, sperm quality remained unchanged in rats (Faqi et al 2004), humans (Beaton 2010), rabbit (Yousef et al 2004;Cardoso 2007), mouse (Jung et al 2004), and monkey (Sharpe et al 2002). In our study, there were no changes observed in pH, volume, viability, motility and acrosome integrity in bucks with SI supplementation.…”

“…In our study we did not observe any changes in testosterone concentration as a result of SI supplementation. Other studies also reported no effects of SI on testosterone concentrations in roosters (Gjorgovska and Filev 2013) and rabbits (Yousef et al 2003;Yousef et al 2004). A seasonal variation in reproductive performance can be observed in goats, which accompanied the changes in hormone secretion.…”

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Soy Isoflavones on the Performance and Egg Quality in Native Chinese Breeder Hens

“…It is suggested that endogenous estrogen state, individual variation, duration and dose of phytoestrogen affects its act as an estrogen agonist or antagonist (Cassidy, 2003). Several studies reported that ISF improved growth and reproductive performance of the animals and their products (Yousef et al, 2004;Jiang et al, 2007;Shin et al, 2008). Furthermore, Shi et al (2013) reported that feeding ISF to laying hens at 59 weeks of age showed an increase in egg production.…”

Influence of Propolis, Nigella sativa on toxicity induced by Chlorpyrifos administration in adult male albino rats.

“…The antioxidant activities of Propolis and its polyphenolic/flavonoid components are related to their ability to chelate metal ions and scavenge singlet oxygen, superoxide anions, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite (61) . Also, Yousef et al, (62) showed that the treatment with isoflavones as antioxidant in combination with cypermethrin minimized its hazardous effects. Kanbura et al (63) found decreases in the plasma and the tissues malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and normalization in the antioxidant enzyme parameters of animals that were administered Propolis in association with propetamphos, in comparison to the group that was administered propetamphos alone.…”