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Background & aim: The side effect of cyclophosphamide is to reduce fertility or even sterility in men treated with these medications. This study was performed to improve these side effects. Methods: In the present experimental study, 15 male mice (20-25 g) were divided into three groups. The control group was treated with 0.1cc of saline daily. The sham group received 15 mg/kg cyclophosphamide once a week and the experimental group was treated with 200 mg/kg Crocin intraperitoneally along with cyclophosphamide. Five weeks after injection total antioxidant capacity of serum was measured. The testes were studied for histological and morphometric parameters. The collected data was analyzed by ANOVA. Results: Histomorphometrical study indicated that epithelial thickness, diameter of seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells of experimental group was significantly greater than sham controls (p<0.05). Mean distribution of mast cells in the sham group compared to the experimental group showed a significant increase (p<0.05). Additionally, positive PAS reaction, alkaline phosphatase and vegetable fat in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells of sham control were observed, whereas in the other groups not seen. In addition, total antioxidant capacity of sham group decreased significantly compared to the control and experimental groups with the sham control and experimental groups ((p<0.05). Conclusion: in general Crocin could significantly prevent the side effects of cyclophosphamide therapy.

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Abstract Background & aim: Cyclophosphamide (CP) along with therapeutic role, exert the effects such as an immunosuppressant agent, induce oxidative stress, impact gonadal cell’s DNA and reducing the fertilizing potential. The present study was aimed to evaluate the protective effects of crocin, on IVF embryos development following chemotherapy with CP. Methods: In this study 36 adult female mice, aged 6-8 weeks, divided into 3 groups and treared for 21 days. The control animals received saline normal (0.1ml/day, IP), and sham control group received CP alone (15 mg/kg/week, IP) and experimental group received crocin (200mg/kg/day, IP) along with CP (15 mg/kg/week, IP). After the end of treatment period PMSG and HCG were administrated for stimulating the ovulation process. The sperms were obtained from 6 adult male mice. Following the euthanizing of animals, and oocyte along with normal sperm collection in-vitro fertilizing was performed by using HTF+4mg/ml BSA medium. The fertilized oocytes were incubated for 120 hours and embryos were studied in various stages. All data were analyzed statistically by Minitab software. Results: In sham control group a significantly reduction in suitable oocytes, percentage of fertilization, two cells zygote, blastocysts and increase the number of arrested developing embryos observed in comparison to control group, and administration of crocin caused significantly increase in suitable oocytes, percentage of fertilization, two cells zygote, blastocysts and significantly reduction of arrested developing embryos in comparison to sham control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The co-administration of crocin with CP chemotherapy caused a significant improvement in fertilizing potential and promoted the embryo development. Key words: Cyclophosphamide, Crocin, Mice, Oocyte, In vitro fertilizing

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Abstract:

Background & aim: Cardiovascular disease is one of the principal causes of mortality in the world. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Physical activity improves the antioxidant status of the heart tissue. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of oxidative and antioxidant indices of the heart tissue of exposed male rats exposed to doxorubicin after eight weeks of severe routine training and consumption of crocin.

 

Methods: In the present experimental study, 50 male Wistar rats with a mean age of 8 weeks and an average weight of 200-220 g were randomly assigned to 5 healthy control groups (saline), doxorubicin (control), doxorubicin crocin, doxorubicin training, and doxorubicin crocin training. The training groups completed the course with two severe periods in the first week and completed 8 severe periods in the last weeks. After 8 weeks, malondialdehyde levels (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes activity were measured in cardiac tissue. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, two way ANOVA.

 

Results: Data analysis indicated a significant increase in malondialdehyde level and a significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase and heart catalase in Doxorubicin group compared to healthy control group (p=0.001). Moreover, the results revealed a significant decrease (P=0.001), crocin (p=0.001), and the combination of exercise and crocin (p=0.025), and a significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. In the result it was found that exercise (p=0.001), crocin (p=0.001), and exercise combinations (p=0.005) showed that in the comparison between the groups, the effect of exercise and crocin alone success. There was no significant difference, but there was a significant difference between their combined effect and the effect of each of these two interventions (exercise and crocin) alone, and these two effects amplified each other (p=0.001).

 

Conclusion: It seems that regular high intensity interval training, supplementation of crocin, or a combination of these two, could be achieved by decreasing levels of oxidative index, malondialdehyde and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase and catalase of heart tissue, protective effects against oxidative damage of doxorubicin have. It appeared that combining these two interventions may have a better preventive and therapeutic strategy than their one-way use.