Antioxidants may improve male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. The study investigated the effects of melatonin and lipoic acid antioxidants on sperm viability, mating behavior, and offspring production. Males fed antioxidants had higher sperm viability, increased mating rates, and produced more offspring than control-fed males. The antioxidants likely protected sperm from oxidative damage induced by paraquat, demonstrating their potential to boost male fertility.
The Role Of Transition Metals & Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) In Alzheimer's ...Pırıl Erel
This powerpoint discusses the role of transition metals and amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and how metal ion chelators may be employed as therapeutic agents for AD. It describes the disorder, how it progresses and what happens to the brain tissue.
Furthermore, within the presentation I describe a drug which chelates metals including a description about the chemical formulation of these drugs and how the drug can be preventative of AD.
in this presentation, the light is focused on discussing the Reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, how it forms, how it affects the body and what are the diseases that correlate with oxidative stress.
nevertheless, how it can be balanced by the antioxidants and what is their role in oxidative stress.
The Role Of Transition Metals & Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) In Alzheimer's ...Pırıl Erel
This powerpoint discusses the role of transition metals and amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and how metal ion chelators may be employed as therapeutic agents for AD. It describes the disorder, how it progresses and what happens to the brain tissue.
Furthermore, within the presentation I describe a drug which chelates metals including a description about the chemical formulation of these drugs and how the drug can be preventative of AD.
in this presentation, the light is focused on discussing the Reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, how it forms, how it affects the body and what are the diseases that correlate with oxidative stress.
nevertheless, how it can be balanced by the antioxidants and what is their role in oxidative stress.
Antioxidants are molecules capable of reducing the causes or effects of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can be caused by environmental factors, disease, infection, inflammation, aging (ROS production). The body produces some endogenous antioxidants, but dietary antioxidants may provide additional line of defense. Flavonoids & other polyphenolics, Vitamins C & E, and Carotenoids are the most common dietary antioxidants. Many herbs and botanicals also contain antioxidants.
Any molecule containing one or more unpaired electrons. These unpaired electrons readily form free radical molecules which are chemically reactive and highly unstable.
During favorable conditions, the level of reactive spices in the cell is limited to what is required for normal cellular activities. They act as important components of signaling pathways. Plants control some important processes such as defense, hormonal signaling and development by using them as signaling molecules. And An equilibrium is steblished between antioxidant system and ros formation. But when plant feels an external stress like, drought,cold, salt etc. the level of reactive specease increases above the basal level a situation that we call oxidative stress. These reactive molecules during oxidative stress, they react with biomolecules like as carbohydrates, unsaturated lipids, proteins, nucleic acids. Proteins are the most abundant cellular targets of the oxidative species, more than DNA and lipids, making up 68% of the oxidized molecules in the cell. Ros reacts with proteins which results in protein modification called redox PTMs.
Oxidative stress is the main metabolic process that causes mitochondrial dysfunction. In this presentation we show different oxidative stress pathways and the main solutions to prevent mitochondrial damage by using non enzymatic antioxidants and boosting antioxidant enzymatic systems.
Free radicals in human diseases and the roleMohammed Sakr
Free radicals reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species are generated by our body by various endogenous systems, exposure to different physiochemical conditions or pathological states. A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function. If free radicals overwhelm the body's ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues. Free radicals thus adversely alter lipids, proteins, and DNA and trigger a number of human diseases. Free radicals are a main cause of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, aging and immune defense disorders. Foods like berries and carrot protect us against free radicals.
Antioxidants are molecules capable of reducing the causes or effects of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can be caused by environmental factors, disease, infection, inflammation, aging (ROS production). The body produces some endogenous antioxidants, but dietary antioxidants may provide additional line of defense. Flavonoids & other polyphenolics, Vitamins C & E, and Carotenoids are the most common dietary antioxidants. Many herbs and botanicals also contain antioxidants.
Any molecule containing one or more unpaired electrons. These unpaired electrons readily form free radical molecules which are chemically reactive and highly unstable.
During favorable conditions, the level of reactive spices in the cell is limited to what is required for normal cellular activities. They act as important components of signaling pathways. Plants control some important processes such as defense, hormonal signaling and development by using them as signaling molecules. And An equilibrium is steblished between antioxidant system and ros formation. But when plant feels an external stress like, drought,cold, salt etc. the level of reactive specease increases above the basal level a situation that we call oxidative stress. These reactive molecules during oxidative stress, they react with biomolecules like as carbohydrates, unsaturated lipids, proteins, nucleic acids. Proteins are the most abundant cellular targets of the oxidative species, more than DNA and lipids, making up 68% of the oxidized molecules in the cell. Ros reacts with proteins which results in protein modification called redox PTMs.
Oxidative stress is the main metabolic process that causes mitochondrial dysfunction. In this presentation we show different oxidative stress pathways and the main solutions to prevent mitochondrial damage by using non enzymatic antioxidants and boosting antioxidant enzymatic systems.
Free radicals in human diseases and the roleMohammed Sakr
Free radicals reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species are generated by our body by various endogenous systems, exposure to different physiochemical conditions or pathological states. A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function. If free radicals overwhelm the body's ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues. Free radicals thus adversely alter lipids, proteins, and DNA and trigger a number of human diseases. Free radicals are a main cause of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, aging and immune defense disorders. Foods like berries and carrot protect us against free radicals.
The biology of Aging in Insects From Drosphila to other insects and back.pptxArchana Ramanji
This particular presentation describes aging in insects and explains the mechanisms underlying it, particularly in Drosophila including eusocial insects.
E-screen assay validation: evaluation of estrogenic activity by MCF7 cell cul...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
— Natural and synthetic estrogens have been detected in rivers, lakes and estuaries in many parts of the world. Primary sources of these compounds are domestic and industrial effluents, which are not deleted after the water treatment. Estrogen has been the endocrine disruptor most researched to be very active biologically and be the etiologic agent of diverse types of cancer and other conditions such as endometriosis, precocious puberty, feminization, masculinization, sterility. In this context, we use water of 36 natural reservoirs or dams, in a bioassay to characterize their estrogenicity in culture of MCF7 cells and obtained high concentration of estrogen in samples taken in Ibiúna and Equestrian Santo Amaro / SP. However, certain concentration in our samples for most water samples from different regions was very close to the limit of quantification by bioassay and estrogen was in fmol. It has been shown that e-screen assay with MCF7 cells is a sensitive and stable tool for quantitative analysis of estrogenicity of water and can easily be developed and implemented for routine for estrogen quantification also in animal food and man, aqueous and plastics etc. Keywords— endocrine disrupters, estrogen, breast cancer cells, (MCF7) bioassay: E-screen assay
Nutrients present in Nutrease powder play an important role in maintaining the normal functions of the human body. The major nutrients present in Nutrease powder include Natural carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Besides these, there are some bioactive food components known as “phytonutrients” that play an important role in human health. They have tremendous impact on the health care system and may provide medical health benefits including the prevention and/or treatment of disease and various physiological disorders such as Andropause or Male menopause. Phytonutrients play a positive role by maintaining and modulating immune function to prevent specific diseases. Being natural products, they hold a great promise in clinical therapy. Phytonutrients in Nutrease powder are the plant nutrients with specific biological activities that support human health. Some of the important bioactive phytonutrients in Nutrease powder include polyphenols, terpenoids, resveratrol, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, carotenoids, limonoids, glucosinolates, phytoestrogens, phytosterols, anthocyanins, and probiotics. They play specific pharmacological effects in human health such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-spasmodic, anti-cancer, anti-aging, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective, hypotensive, diabetes, osteoporosis, CNS stimulant, analgesic, protection from UVB-induced carcinogenesis, immuno-modulator, and carminative. This article reviews the current available scientific literature regarding the effect of Nutrease powder as an effective supplementation in Male & Female Fertility.
Exploring Estrogen’s Role in Metabolism and the Use of 13C-Labeled Nutrients ...InsideScientific
Dr. Reilly Enos and Dr. Eran Levin discuss estrogen's metabolic impact and how isotopic labeling and 13C-labeled nutrients can be used for animal physiology and nutrition research.
Reilly Enos, PhD – Harnessing the power of estrogen to regulate metabolic processes
Dr. Reilly Enos’ research focuses on the role that sex steroids and their receptors play in regulating metabolic processes, particularly in the setting of obesity. In this webinar, Dr. Enos will discuss his research on tissue-specific fluctuations of sex steroids throughout the estrous cycle in mice, provide insights into the importance of the quantity of estrogen necessary to impact physiological processes, as well as an understanding of the central versus peripheral effects of estrogen action.
Eran Levin, PhD – Unlocking Insights: Utilizing 13C Labeled Nutrients for Cutting-Edge Physiology and Nutrition Research
Dr. Eran Levin will discuss the potential of using 13C-labeled nutrients in physiology and nutrition research in animal models. Specifically, he will share practical tips for designing and conducting experiments using isotopic labeling techniques and demonstrate how they can provide unprecedented insights into metabolic pathways, nutrient utilization, and behaviors in both vertebrate and invertebrate models including insects, reptiles, and mammals.
Key Topics Include:
- The role that estrogen plays in regulating metabolic and behavioral processes in males and females
- The tissue-specific fluctuations of sex steroids throughout the estrous cycle
- Insight into the importance of tissue-specificity in developing hormonal therapies
- The importance of estrogen quantity in regulating physiological processes
- Understand the diverse range of 13C labeled nutrients available
- Specific applications of labeled amino acids in studies of protein metabolism, cellular signaling, and typical nutrient utilization
- How to integrate 13C labeling techniques with respirometry for a comprehensive assessment of metabolic processes, energy expenditure, and substrate utilization in animal models
- How to calculate metabolic rates in free-flying animals using 13C bicarbonate
ABSTRACT- An experimental study was performed with viviparous animal Heterometrous fulvipes to access the cumulative effect of chronic heavy metals exposure on the activity levels of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Chronic heavy metal exposure resulted in variation in the enzymes levels with increase in AST and decreases in ALT, contributed to the stress induced by the heavy metals. These changes in enzymatic activity of the maternal and embryonic tissue of H. fulvipes under the influence of heavy metal, mercury and lead is suggestive of the specific impact of mercury and lead on the enzymatic pathway, prompting a further study to consolidate the finding in human study. It is pertinent that the heavy metal toxicity be well documented and appropriate precaution taken in mother and fetus to decrease its detrimental effects. Key-words- Heavy Metals, Animal models, Hepatic Enzymes, Viviparous
Protective effect of plants extracts mixture on sperm abnormalities, testicul...
Super Males: Antioxidants boost male fertility and sperm viability in fruit flies
1. Antioxidants Boost Male Fertility: The role of
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in modulating
sperm viability & fertility
Weily Lang, Dr. Preethi Radhakrishnan
Department of Natural Sciences
LaGuardia Community College
2. Relationship between Reactive Oxygen
Species and the male reproductive
system
The body produces large amounts of Reactive Oxygen
species (ROS) when subjected to:
• Environmental Stressors (Smoking, Drugs, Pollution)
• Systemic Pathologies (Cancer, Diabetes, Systemic
infections)
This oxidative stress can be potentially harmful to male
reproductive tissue, especially sperm
Sperm are very prone to lipid peroxidation under high
stress (Agarwal & Esteves, 2011)
4. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
What are ROS
- free radicals produced as byproducts of REDOX reactions
- produced during cellular stress and immune insult (Bonilla 2006)
How is ROS produced?
ATP (energy) production in the
mitochondria
results in surplus of oxygen
molecules
some O2 utilized, some converted
into ROS radicals by mitochondrial
enzyme, Complex IV
5. Antioxidants
What are Antioxidants?
• Molecules which inhibit oxidation
• Scavenges free radicals
• Capable of reducing Reactive Oxygen Species
(ROS)
• Examples are:
• Melatonin
• Lipoic Acid
6. Antioxidants used in our experiments:
Bonilla et al., 2002 & 2006, found that dietary supplementation of
Melatonin and Lipoic acid caused significant lengthening of life-span.
Melatonin Lipoic acid
- is a lipid soluble hormone that easily - are sulfur-containing
accesses cell membrane compounds
- reduces DNA destruction by - quench ROS by donating
quenching free radicals (Bonilla, E. electrons to ROS (Bonilla, E.
2006). 2006).
7. Interaction between Paraquat and ROS
What is paraquat (PQ)?
- Paraquat (PQ) is a nitrogen-containing herbicide
- It is highly toxic to living organisms leading to poisoning and death.
What is the association between paraquat (PQ) and ROS?
- Organisms respond to PQ by producing a type of free radical called
superoxide anions that are then converted into large quantities of ROS
(Bonilla 2006).
- Therefore, we used PQ in our experiments at known doses (10mM) to
artificially induce the production of ROS (Bonilla 2006).
8. Fertility
What is fertility and how is it important?
- Fertility is a measure of number of offspring produced by an
individual.
- The more offspring that are conceived the higher the chance of
passing on genes to the next generation
Sexual Selection:
Pre-Copulatory sexual selection:
- Copula duration: The duration of intercourse
where sperm is injected in female.
- Sperm Viability: The measure of alive sperm
capable of fertilization.
-Post-Copulatory sexual selection:
- No. of offspring produced
Fertility is measured by the number of offspring hatched
9. Relationship between ROS & Fertility
ROS may directly impact fertility:
During an infection (systemic, STD)
Environmental stressors (smoking, radiation)
Pesticides (Paraquat)
Drosophila sperm
ROS’s effect on Sperm (Lipid Peroxidation):
● Sperm membranes are high in polyunsaturated fats - making
their membranes prone to ROS attacks via lipid peroxidation.
● Sperm also contain many mitochondria, which are a prime
source of free radical production, again making sperm likely
targets of excess ROS.
11. How did we assay live/dead sperm in
males?
Sperm Viability Kit (L-7011, Molecular Probes)
• Seminal Vesicles were dissected and sperm counted
• SYBR 14 – is a membrane-permeable nucleic acid stain (emission max.
516 nm)
• PROPIDIUM IODIDE - a dead-cell stain (emission max. 617 nm). Both
solutions stain sperm heads only
• Ninety-six percent of the cells seen in light microscopy were found in the
fluorescence image.
• Overall, 5% (678 out of 13 654 sperm cells) of the cells were doubly-stained
(green in centre, red at ends), and were included as dead cells.
• We counted live and dead sperm were counted manually, in each frame of
the slide
• Slides were counted blind of treatment
13. So how can antioxidants help?
Feeding Antioxidants:
Antioxidants quench and react with ROS to reduce the oxidation effect on
the cell membrane and DNA. This protects sperm from damage.
Antioxidant enhanced diets, Melatonin (M), Lipoic Acid (L):
Data from these groups showed a significantly higher percentage of viable
sperm and higher progeny.
Control (EtOH):
Fewer viable sperm & fewer progeny than from antioxidant-fed males.
14. Methodology
Collect virgins
Starve males for 24 hours / separate females into different
vials
Feed males antioxidant-enhanced and control (Ethanol)
diets
Paraquat assault (24 hours on filter paper)
Sperm viability assay (Propidium Iodide & SYBR Green)
Mating (males from treatments paired with females) –
observations made
Copula duration (start of mating and end of mating)
Fertility (count progeny) – Flips 1, 2 and 3.
16. Predictions
Antioxidant-enhanced feeding treatments of melatonin
and lipoic acid would positively affect male fertility.
There will be a significant decrease in the male fertility
within the control group (Ethanol Fed) due to the negative
effects of paraquat on fertility.
If we find a positive correlation between antioxidants and
fertility, we plan to focus directly on the effects of these
two antioxidants on sperm viability in the future.
21. Conclusion
Mating probability and Copula Duration
• We found significant differences in treatments in the
number of flies that mated (p = 0.002)
• We found that antioxidant fed flies had higher mating
percentages than ethanol fed controls
• However, we found no significant differences in copula
duration between treatments (p = 0.567)
22. Conclusion
Sperm viability
• Males fed Melatonin and Lipoic acid had a significantly higher
proportion of live sperm (74% and 56%) than the Ethanol
treatment (32%) (p = 0.0020)
• This indicated that both antioxidants Melatonin and Lipoic Acid,
might protect sperm from the lipid peroxidation activity of
Paraquat
23. Conclusion
Fertility
• Males fed Melatonin and Lipoic acid sired significantly
more offspring (mean = 187 and 148) than the Ethanol fed
controls (mean = 82) (p = 0.0325)
• This shows that antioxidant-fed males, passed more
viable sperm to females than the Ethanol treated flies,
thereby siring more offspring.
24. References
1. Bonilla, E., et al., 2006. Paraquat –induced Oxidative stress in D. melanogaster: Effects
of Melatonin, Glutathione, Serotonin, Minocycline, Lipoic Acid and Ascorbic Acid.
Neurochem Res, 31:1425-1432
2. Bonilla, E, et al., 2002. Extension of life-span and stress resistance of D.melanogaster
by long-term supplementation with melatonin. Experimental Gerontology, 37:629-638.
3. Dowling, D, Simmons, L.W. 2009. Reactive oxygen species as universal constraints in
life-history evolution. Proc. R. Soc. B. 276: 1737-1745.
4. Aitken, J., Roman, D, S., Antioxidant Systems and Oxidative stress in the testes. 2008.
Molecular mechanisims in Spermatogenesis.
5. Radhakrishnan, P., Fedorka, K.MF. 2011. Influence of female age, sperm senescence
and multiple mating on sperm viability in female D. melanogaster. 57: 778-83
6. Radhakrishnan, P., Taylor, P.W. 2007. Seminal fluids mediate sexual inhibition and short
copula duration in mated female Quuensland fruit flies. 53: 741-745.
25. Acknowledgements
Jon Rodriguez
Dr. Hendrick Delcham
NIH-Bridges R25 PAR-11-285
Dr. Thomas Onorato
Cheryl Pinzone, University of Georgia
Editor's Notes
Although organisms need oxygen to function, oxygen has a negative metabolic effect on organisms by producing ROS when the body encounters stress.
Although organisms need oxygen to function, oxygen has a negative metabolic effect on organisms by producing ROS when the body encounters stress.
Although organisms need oxygen to function, oxygen has a negative metabolic effect on organisms by producing ROS when the body encounters stress.
Although organisms need oxygen to function, oxygen has a negative metabolic effect on organisms by producing ROS when the body encounters stress.