Protective effects of Calligonum comosum extract on histological alterations and apoptosis-related gene expression in vitrified-thawed neonatal mouse testicular tissue

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of the Calligonum comosum (C. comosum) extract on the improvement of spermatogenesis in vitro.Methods: Neonatal testicular tissues were divided into four groups and cultured for two weeks: freshly cultured tissues (F۲W); freshly cultured tissues supplemented with ۱۰ μg/mL C. comosum extract (F۲W + Ca); frozen–thawed tissues (FT۲W); and frozen–thawed tissues supplemented with ۱۰ μg/mL C. comosum extract (FT۲W + Ca). Then, the expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl۲, Bax, P۵۳, and Fas) and the number of seminiferous tubules were evaluated after culture.Results: The results of gene expression indicated significant upregulation of the Bax, P۵۳ and Fas genes in the FT۲W group compare to the F۲W group (P < ۰.۰۰۱). The C. comosum extract significantly downregulated the expression of Bax, P۵۳ and Fas genes in neonatal testicular tissue of the FT۲W+ Ca group compared to the FT۲W group (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Histological results showed that the number of abnormal tubules in neonatal testicular tissue considerably increased in the FT۲W group compared to the F۲W group (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Additionally, the C. comosum extract significantly reduced the number of abnormal seminiferous tubules in testicular tissue of the FT۲W+ Ca group compared to the FT۲W group (P < ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusions: The C. comosum extract was associated with reduced histological abnormalities and decreased the expression of apoptosis-related genes in cultured neonatal mouse testicular tissue.

کلیدواژه ها:

spermatogenesis ، Calligonum camosum ، Testicular tissue ، Testosterone