The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of propolis, pollen, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and total RNA levels of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) inhibition of nitric oxide synthase in the heart, adrenal medulla, and hypothalamus of hypertensive male Sprague dawley rats. The TH activity in the adrenal medulla, heart, and hypothalamus of the rats was significantly increased in the L-NAME group vs. control (p < 0.05). Treatment with L-NAME led to a significant increase in blood pressure (BP) in the L-NAME group compared to control (p < 0.05). These data suggest that propolis, pollen, and CAPE may mediate diminished TH activity in the heart, adrenal medulla, and hypothalamus in hypertensive rats. The decreased TH activity may be due to the modulation and synthesis of catecholamines and BP effects. In addition, the binding mechanism of CAPE within the catalytic domain of TH was investigated by means of molecular modeling approaches. These data suggest that the amino acid residues, Glu429 and Ser354 of TH may play a pivotal role in the stabilization of CAPE within the active site as evaluated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Gibbs binding free energy (ΔG_binding) of CAPE in complex with TH was also determined by post-processing MD analysis approaches (i.e. Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) method).

Background: Hypertension is described as increased blood pressure based on changed hemodynamics and associated with an increased oxidative damage to reproductive function. This work is to determine therapeutic and protective effects of apitherapy products (propolis and pollen) on reproductive functions of L-NAME-induced hypertensive male rats. Methods: Experimental animals were indiscriminately separated into four groups of seven rats in each group: (I) Control, (II) L-NAME, (III) L-NAME+ propolis and (IV) L-NAME+ pollen. At the end of the experimental applications, the rats were decapitated by anesthesia and biochemical analyzes were performed on the removed testicular tissues. Results: The levels of TOS, NF-κB and MDA in the L-NAME group compared to control have increased (p < 0.05). The levels of these parameters in L-NAME+ propolis and L-NAME+ pollen groups compared to the L-NAME group have decreased (p < 0.05). TAS levels, PON1 and CAT activities were significantly decreased in testis tissue samples in the L-NAME-induced group (p < 0.05). However, these parameters were significantly lower in the L-NAME plus propolis and pollen groups (p < 0.05) compared with rats administered L-NAME alone (p < 0.05). NO level significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in L-NAME group compared with control group. There was no statistically significant changes in the NO level of the L-NAME+ propolis group compared with the L-NAME-treated group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: It has been determined that ethanolic extracts of propolis and pollen, which are natural bee products in the regulation of rising blood pressure. Propolis or pollen is thought to help regulate reproductive function by inhibiting the functioning of inflammatory pathways leading to hypertension.

We conducted this study to determine the potential cryopreservative effects of different hesperidin (vitamin P; H) doses on ram semen after freeze-thawing. Semen samples were obtained from Sönmez rams using an artificial vagina. The samples were divided into six groups: control, 10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 µg/mL H (C, H10, H50, H100, H250, and H500, respectively). At the end of the study, sperm motility and kinetic parameters, acrosome integrity (AI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), viability, lipid peroxidation levels (LPL), chromatin damage, oxidant parameters, and antioxidant parameters were assayed. None of the doses of H added to the semen extender showed any enhancing effects on progressive motility compared to C (p > 0.05). In fact, H500 had negative effects (p < 0.05). Moreover, AI was the highest at the H10 dose, while LPL values were the lowest at the same dose (p < 0.05). The doses of H10 and H50 added to the Tris extender medium showed positive effects on sperm cell chromatin damage. Consequently, we can say that H doses used in this study are not effective on semen progressive motility, but the H10 dose is effective on AI and chromatin damage by reducing LPL.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of hesperidin (HES) on testicular histopathological changes, biochemical changes, and semen characteristics in rats exposed to glyphosate (GLP). The control group was given a normal diet devoid of GLP and HES, the HES group was given 100 mg/kg/day HES with the normal diet, the GLP group was given GLP at the LD₅₀/10 dose of normal feed, which was 787.85 mg/kg/day, and the GLP + HES group was given normal feed containing 787.85 mg/kg/day LD₅₀/10 dose of GLP in addition to 100 mg/kg/day HES. GLP administration reduced sperm motility, sperm plasma membrane integrity, glutathione levels, and total antioxidant levels in the testicular tissues of rats. Moreover, it caused an increase in right testis and left epididymis weights, abnormal sperm counts, malondialdehyde levels, total oxidant status, and DNA damage. The HES treatment showed curative effects on these parameters. Furthermore, HES was effective in lessening the histopathological damage that was caused by GLP. The results showedthat HES protects spermatological parameters and DNA integrity, improves antioxidant defenses, and lowers the damage and lipid peroxidation caused by GLP in testicular tissue.