Mohammadghasemi Fahimeh, Khanaki Korosh, Moravati Hamid, Faghani Masoumeh
Cellular & Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Medical Biotechnology Research Center, School of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Anat Cell Biol. 2021 Jun 30;54(2):232-240. doi: 10.5115/acb.20.161.
Nicotine as a toxic agent in cigarette smoke impairs the reproductive system. Sambucus ebulus extract (SEE) is shown to have some beneficial effects such as antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SEE on the hormones of the pituitary-gonadal axis, lipid peroxidation index, antioxidant enzymes, spermatogenesis, and epididymal sperm parameters in male mice treated with nicotine. Adult male mice were divided into five groups; A: normal saline, B: 1 mg/kg nicotine, C: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 10 mg/kg SEE, D: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 50 mg/kg SEE, D: 1 mg/kg nicotine and 100 mg/kg SEE. Treatments lasted for 35 days. The spermicidal activity of SEE was tested . Sperm count, motility and morphology were assessed for fertility. Serum testosterone, prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured, using ELISA. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured, using colorimetric assays. Spermatogenesis was evaluated by Johnsen's score and morphometry in histological slides. SEE at different doses did not have any spermicidal activity. Sperm parameters were reduced in the nicotine-treated group, compared with controls (<0.01). Nicotine reduced testosterone and LH levels (<0.01) and increased prolactin (<0.01). A hike in MDA and a reduction in SOD activity without change on CAT, were observed in the nicotine group. Nicotine caused hypospermatogenesis. SEE improved most of the above-mentioned parameters, especially in the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Beneficial effects of SEE in the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg on male reproduction impairment, induced by nicotine might be partly attributed to the reduction of oxidative stress and changes in the hormones of the pituitary-gonadal axis.
香烟烟雾中的有毒物质尼古丁会损害生殖系统。接骨木提取物（SEE）具有一些有益作用，如抗氧化特性。本研究旨在评估SEE对经尼古丁处理的雄性小鼠垂体 - 性腺轴激素、脂质过氧化指数、抗氧化酶、精子发生及附睾精子参数的影响。成年雄性小鼠分为五组：A组：生理盐水；B组：1 mg/kg尼古丁；C组：1 mg/kg尼古丁 + 10 mg/kg SEE；D组：1 mg/kg尼古丁 + 50 mg/kg SEE；E组：1 mg/kg尼古丁 + 100 mg/kg SEE。处理持续35天。测试了SEE的杀精活性。评估精子数量、活力和形态以判断生育能力。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）检测血清睾酮、催乳素和黄体生成素（LH）。采用比色法测定血清丙二醛（MDA）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性。通过约翰森评分和组织学切片形态计量学评估精子发生情况。不同剂量的SEE均无任何杀精活性。与对照组相比，尼古丁处理组的精子参数降低（<0.01）。尼古丁降低了睾酮和LH水平（<0.01），并升高了催乳素水平（<0.01）。在尼古丁组中，观察到MDA升高，SOD活性降低，而CAT无变化。尼古丁导致精子发生减少。SEE改善了上述大多数参数，尤其是在50和100 mg/kg剂量时。50和100 mg/kg剂量的SEE对尼古丁诱导的雄性生殖损伤具有有益作用，这可能部分归因于氧化应激的降低以及垂体 - 性腺轴激素的变化。
