Antioxidant levels in blood and seminal plasma and their impact on sperm parameters in infertile men

Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) beyond the scavenging capacity of antioxidants leads to DNA damage and oxidation of lipoprotein components at the cellular and subcellular level. The oxidative stress (OS) adversely affects sperm function by altering membrane fluidity, permeability and impairs sperm functional competence. In the present study, the OS status in seminal plasma and blood serum in infertile men and its relationship with spermatozoa parameters have been investigated. Four groups of infertile men viz., oligozoospermic (n = 15), asthenozoospermic (n = 17), teratozoospermic (n = 19), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (n = 9), and healthy fertile controls (n = 40) have been analyzed for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in seminal plasma and blood serum. Significant correlation between blood serum SOD and sperm count has been observed in patients (p = 0.018) and controls (p = 0.021). Similarly, significant correlation between blood serum GSH and sperm progressive motility in patients (p = 0.036) and controls (p = 0.029) is observed. The low seminal MDA is associated with increase in sperm progressive motility in patients (p = 0.039) and controls (p = 0.028). Positive correlation is found between increased seminal MDA levels and abnormal sperm morphology in both patients and controls (r = 0.523, p = 0.029; r = 0.612, p = 0.034 respectively). Correlations between blood SOD and sperm count and between blood GSH levels and progressive motility suggest that these can be important biochemical markers in assaying the sperm count and motility. A negative correlation of motility with seminal MDA indicates that sperm membrane lipid peroxidation affects the fluidity and thus mobility of sperm axoneme. This affects functional competence of the sperm and acts like a biological safeguard. The results of the present study suggest the prospects of using the blood serum and seminal plasma antioxidants as a valuable tool to evaluate the sperm reproductive capacity and functional competence.     

Which Circulating Antioxidant Vitamins Are Confounded by Socioeconomic Deprivation? The MIDSPAN Family Study

Background

Antioxidant vitamins are often described as having “independent” associations with risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. We aimed to compare to what extent a range of antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids are associated with adulthood and childhood markers of socioeconomic deprivation and to adverse lifestyle factors.

Methods and Findings

Socioeconomic and lifestyle measures were available in 1040 men and 1298 women from the MIDSPAN Family Study (30–59 years at baseline) together with circulating levels of vitamins A, C, E, and carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, lutein and lycopene). Markers of socioeconomic deprivation in adulthood were consistently as strongly associated with lower vitamin C and carotenoid levels as markers of adverse lifestyle; the inverse association with overcrowding was particularly consistent (vitamin C and carotenoids range from 19.1% [95% CI 30.3–6.0] to 38.8% [49.9–25.3] lower among those in overcrowded residencies). These associations were consistent after adjusting for month, classical CVD risk factors, body mass index, physical activity, vitamin supplements, dietary fat and fibre intake. Similar, but weaker, associations were seen for childhood markers of deprivation. The association of vitamin A or E were strikingly different; several adult adverse lifestyle factors associated with higher levels of vitamin A and E, including high alcohol intake for vitamin A (9.5% [5.7–13.5]) and waist hip ratio for vitamin E (9.5% [4.8–14.4]), with the latter associations partially explained by classical risk factors, particularly cholesterol levels.

Conclusions

Plasma vitamin C and carotenoids have strong inverse associations with adulthood markers of social deprivation, whereas vitamin A and E appear positively related to specific adverse lifestyle factors. These findings should help researchers better contextualize blood antioxidant vitamin levels by illustrating the potential limitations associated with making causal inferences without consideration of social deprivation.     

Micropropagation of Coleus blumei from nodal segments and shoot tips

A rapid and highly-effective method for micropropagation from nodal segment and shoot tip explants was established for Coleus blumei Benth. Nodal segments and shoot tips were inoculated on MS medium containing 0.7 % agar, 3 % commercial sugar, and different combinations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Hundred percent shoot induction from both explants was achieved on the medium containing BA (2 mg dm⁻³) and NAA (1 mg dm⁻³). Shoot tips were proved to be the better explant in comparison to nodal segments in having high rate of shoot induction and more number of shoots. The same media conditions were found suitable for shoot multiplication. Multiplied shoots rooted best on MS medium supplemented with IBA (2 mg dm⁻³). Micropropagated plants were successfully established in soil after hardening, with 100 % survival rate.     

Cardioprotection from ischemia and reperfusion injury by Withania somnifera: A hemodynamic,biochemical and histopathological assessment

The efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ws) to limit myocardial injury after ischemia and reperfusion was explored and compared to that of Vit E, a reference standard known to reduce mortality and infarct size due to myocardial infarction. Wistar rats (150–200 g) were divided into six groups and received orally saline (sham, control group), Ws-50/kg (Ws control and treated group) and Vit E-100 mg/kg (Vit E control and treated group) respectively for 1 month. On the 31st day, rats of the control, Vit E and Ws treated groups were anesthetized and subjected to 45 min occlusion of the LAD coronary artery followed by 60 min reperfusion. Hemodynamic parameters: systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure (SAP, DAP, MAP), heart rate (HR), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular peak (+) LVdP/dt and (–) LVdP/dt were monitored. Hearts were removed and processed for histopathological and biochemical studies: Myocardial enzyme viz, creatin phosphokinase (CPK), and antioxidant parameters: malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were estimated. Postischemic reperfusion produced significant cardiac necrosis, depression of left ventricular functions (MAP, LVEDP, (+) and (–) LVdP/dt) and a significant fall in GSH (p < 0.01), SOD, CAT(p < 0.05), LDH and CPK (p < 0.01) as well as an increase in MDA level (p < 0.05) in the control group rats as compared to sham group. The changes in levels of protein and GPx was however, not significant. Ws and Vit E favorably modulated most of the hemodynamic, biochemical and histopathological parameters though no significant restoration in GSH, MAP (with Vit E) were observed. Ws on chronic administration markedly augmented antioxidants (GSH, GSHPx, SOD, CAT) while Vit E did not stimulate the synthesis of endogenous antioxidants compared to sham. Results indicate that Ws significantly reduced myocardial injury and emphasize the beneficial action of Ws as a cardioprotective agent.     

The Development of Purpose During Adolescence

While there has been much research on adults' abilities to detect deception, there have been very few studies examining both children's and adults' abilities to detect children's real, spontaneous lies. The present study asked both children and adults to make judgments of children's true and false reports. Participants (N = 156) were shown videotaped sessions of children who were either spontaneously lying or telling the truth. Results indicate that both children's and adults' accuracy for detecting children's true statements was below chance. However, older children were significantly better at detecting lies than both younger children and adults.     

In vitro antioxidant activity and phenolic contents in methanol extracts from medicinal plants

Antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of 26 species extracts from 20 botanical families grown in north-western Himalaya were investigated. Antioxidant activities were determined using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using a Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of phenolic compounds was also carried out by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using diode array detector (DAD). Major phenolics determined using RP-HPLC in analyzed species were gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid. Antiradical efficiency (1/EC₅₀) determined using DPPH radical scavenging assay ranged from 0.13 to 5.46. FRAP values ranged from 8.66 to 380.9 μmol Fe(II)/g dw. Similarly, the total phenolic content in the analyzed species varied from 3.01 to 69.96 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight. Gallic acid was found in the majority of the samples, being most abundant compound in Syzygium cumini bark (92.64 mg/100 g dw). Vanillic acid was the predominant phenolic compound in Picrorhiza kurroa root stolen (161.2 mg/100 g dry weight). The medicinal plants with highest antioxidant activities were Taxus baccata and Syzygium cumini. A significant positive correlation, R ²?=?0.9461 and R ²?=?0.9112 was observed between TPC determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method and antiradical efficiency and FRAP values respectively, indicating that phenolic compounds are the major contributor of antioxidant activity of these medicinal plants.     

Structure-activity relationship studies of novel pyrazole and imidazole carboxamides as cannabinoid-1 (CB1) antagonists

The synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrazole and imidazole carboxamides as CB1 antagonists are described. As a part of eastern amide SAR, various chemically diverse motifs were introduced on rimonabant template. The central pyrazole core was also replaced with its conformationally constrained motif and imidazole moieties. In general, a range of modifications were well tolerated. Several molecules with low- and sub-nanomolar potencies were identified as potent CB1 receptor antagonists. The in vivo proof of principle for weight loss is demonstrated with a lead compound in DIO mice model.     

NAD+ released during inflammation participates in T cell homeostasis by inducing ART2-mediated death of naive T cells in vivo

Mono ADP-ribosyltransferase 2 (ART2) is an ectoenzyme expressed on mouse T lymphocytes, which catalyze the transfer of ADP-ribose groups from NAD(+) onto several target proteins. In vitro, ADP-ribosylation by ART2 activates the P2X7 ATP receptor and is responsible for NAD(+)-induced T cell death (NICD). Yet, the origin of extracellular NAD(+) and the role of NICD in vivo remain elusive. In a model of acute inflammation induced by polyacrylamide beads, we demonstrate release of NAD(+) into exudates during the early phase of the inflammatory response. This leads to T cell depletion in the draining lymph nodes from wild-type and, more severely, from mice lacking the CD38 NAD(+) glycohydrolase, whereas no effect is observed in ART2-deficient animals. Intravenous injection of NAD(+) used to exacerbate NICD in vivo results in fast and dramatic ART2- and P2X7-dependent depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, which can affect up to 80% of peripheral T cells in CD38(-/-) mice. This affects mainly naive T cells as most cells surviving in vivo NAD+ treatment exhibit the phenotype of recently activated/memory cells. Consistently, treatment with NAD(+) abolishes primary Ab response to a T-dependent Ag in NICD-susceptible CD38(-/-) mice but has no effect on the secondary response when given several days after priming. Unexpectedly NAD+ treatment improves the response in their wild-type BALB/c counterparts. We propose that NAD(+) released during early inflammation facilitates the expansion of primed T cells, through ART2-driven death of resting cells, thus contributing to the dynamic regulation of T cell homeostasis.