Recovery effect of pre-germinated brown rice on the alteration of sperm quality, testicular structure and androgen receptor expression in rat model of depression

Abstract

Depression and antidepressant drugs induce adverse effects in male reproduction. Therefore, it is important to investigate alternative treatment for depression without adverse effects on the male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pre-germinated brown rice (PGBR) on sperm quality, testicular structure and androgen receptor (AR) expression in rat model of depression. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups including control (distilled water only), depression induced by forced swimming test (FST), FST + fluoxetine (antidepressant drug), FST + GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) (standard) and FST + PGBR. When compared with the control, sperm motility showed a significant decrease in FST + fluoxetine group. Sperm morphology also decreased significantly in depression and FST + fluoxetine groups. The morphological changes of seminiferous tubules showed significant increases in depression and FST + fluoxetine groups, while AR expression showed significant decreases in depression, FST + fluoxetine and FST + GABA groups. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in all sperm quality parameters, testicular structure and AR expression in FST + PGBR group. These findings reflect the recovery effects of PGBR treatment on sperm quality, morphological changes of seminiferous tubules and AR expression in stress-induced rats. Therefore, PGBR may potentially develop for the treatment for depression without adverse effect on male reproduction.

Changes in sperm quality and testicular structure in a rat model of type 1 diabetes

“…The significant decrease in the proportion of late stage (stage IX-XIV) seminiferous tubules in rats in the DM group may reflect an arrested period of development causing impairment of spermatogenesis. This decrease may be due to decreases in testosterone levels, dysfunction of Leydig cells, changes in structure and function of Sertoli cells, or atrophy of the seminiferous tubules [17,29]. The significant increase in the proportion of early stage tubules in rats in the DM group may also reflect nonprogressive development of the tubules due to an impairment of testosterone production from Leydig cells or changes in the structure and function of Sertoli cells.…”

“…The testis and epididymis were removed immediately after death. Sperm from the cauda epididymis were mixed in prewarmed phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and sperm motility was determined using a Makler counting chamber [16,17]. The sperm sample was fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, and sperm concentration was determined using hemocytometer under a light microscope (400× magnification).…”

“…The sperm sample was fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, and sperm concentration was determined using hemocytometer under a light microscope (400× magnification). Subsequently, the percentage of normal spermatozoa was calculated from a total of 200 spermatozoa under a light microscope after staining with eosin [17][18][19][20].…”

“…Then, 2 sections per rat were examined for normal morphology and morphological changes of seminiferous tubules including separation of the germinal epithelium, vacuolization, luminal sloughing of germ cells, irregular tube, and atrophy of the tubules. The morphological changes were calculated as percentages of morphological change in seminiferous tubules per total tubules [17]. Then, 2 sections per rat were examined to determine the developmental stage of the seminiferous epithelium [21,22].…”

Brown Rice Versus White Rice: Nutritional Quality, Potential Health Benefits, Development of Food Products, and Preservation Technologies

“…-GBR treatment showed recovery effect on sperm quality, morphological changes of seminiferous tubules and androgen receptor expression in stress-induced rats. Roboon et al (2016) Against Alzheimer's disease -To investigate the therapeutic effects of highly water pressurized BR (HPBR) on cognitive dysfunction.…”