Novel hydrogen ‐producing Si‐based agent reduces oxidative stress, and improves sperm motility and in vitro fertilization rate in varicocoele

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of oral administration of a Si ‐based agent on varicocoele rat.Materials and methodsTwenty ‐one rats were divided into four groups: varicocoele + normal diet (n = 5), varicocoele + Si‐based agent‐supplemented diet (n = 6), sham + normal diet (n = 5), and sham + Si‐based agent‐supplemented diet (n = 5). All rats were euthanized four weeks after surgery.ResultsThe mean left epididymal sperm motility was 74.4% in the sham group, 72.3% in the sham + Si group, 57.6% in the varicocoele group, and 66.9% in the varicocoele  + Si group. Epididymal sperm motility was significantly lower in the varicocoele group, but was significantly higher upon Si‐based agent ingestion (P <  .01). The mean left testicular weight, Johnsen's score, and left epididymal sperm concentration did not differ significantly between groups. The 8‐OHdG concentration and DNA fragmentation rate were significantly increased in the varicocoele group, but were significantly decreased in the Si‐bas ed agent intake group (P <  .01). Additionally, the IVF rate was significantly lower in the varicocoele group (26.3%) compared with the sham group (73.4%;P <  .01), and was significantly higher in the varicocoele + Si group (51.8%) compared with the varicocoele group (P <  .05), indicating that the Si‐based agent improves IVF rates.Discussion and conclusionOral intake of the silicon ‐based agent improves epid...

Source: Andrology - September 8, 2020 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Yusuke Inagaki, Shinichiro Fukuhara, Ryoichi Imamura, Yuki Kobayashi, Sohei Kuribayashi, Koichi Okada, Yosuke Sekii, Kentaro Takezawa, Hiroshi Kiuchi, Motohide Uemura, Hikaru Kobayashi, Norio Nonomura Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research