Resveratrol ameliorates spermatogenesis by increasing protamine 1, 2 and HSPA2 expression in experimental varicocele rat model

Maryam Baazm; Rasool Babaei; Amene Nikgoftar Fathi; Hadi Karami; Mohammad Bayat

doi:10.1016/j.androl.2023.100370

Resveratrol ameliorates spermatogenesis by increasing protamine 1, 2 and HSPA2 expression in experimental varicocele rat model

Rev Int Androl. 2023 Oct-Dec;21(4):100370. doi: 10.1016/j.androl.2023.100370. Epub 2023 Jul 10.

Authors

Maryam Baazm¹, Rasool Babaei², Amene Nikgoftar Fathi², Hadi Karami³, Mohammad Bayat⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
² Students Research Committee, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
³ Department of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
⁴ Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Electronic address: dr.mbayat@arakmu.ac.ir.

PMID: 37437508
DOI: 10.1016/j.androl.2023.100370

Abstract

Objectives: Varicocele is a common cause of male infertility associated with an elevated testicular temperature that induces apoptosis, spermatogenesis dysfunction, and affects sperm parameters. In this study, we investigate the probable therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RES), a natural phytoalexin, against varicocele.

Materials and methods: In this study, 48 male Wistar rats randomly divided into 8 groups: normal, sham, normal+RES (20 and 50mg/kg), varicocele, varicocele+ethanol and varicocele+RES (20 and 50mg/kg). Incomplete closure of the left renal vein was used for varicocele induction and two months later, RES was administrated orally for 60 days. Then, sperm parameters, DNA fragmentations, chromatin density, and testis histopathology were analyzed. In addition, HSPA2, protamine 1, and 2 expression levels were evaluated using real-time PCR.

Results: According to our results, resveratrol treatment improved sperm parameters, testis histopathology, DNA fragmentation, and chromatin maturation which damaged follow varicocele (p≤0.05). Also, it increased HSPA2, protamine 1, and 2 expression levels significantly in both doses (p≤0.05).

Conclusion: Resveratrol potentially attenuates varicocele-induced spermatogenic impairments by its antioxidant features and regulates spermatogenic gene expression undergoing DNA fragmentation, so leads histopathological properties of tissues to physiological parameters.

Keywords: HSPA2; Protamina 1; Protamina 2; Protamine 1; Protamine 2; Resveratrol; Varicocele.