Reproductive

Adult female rats were treated subcutaneously (s.c.) with zinc chloride (ZnCl2, 10 or 20 mg kg-1 body weight, bw) four times during two ovarian cycles. The third injection was accompanied by cadmium chloride (CdCl2) administration sc (2.5, 5 and 10 mg kg-1 bw). The fourth zinc (Zn) treatment was followed by mating. ZnCl2 (20 mg kg-1) itself impaired fertility by 20%, while CdCl2 dose-dependently blocked the receptivity of female rats. In combination with 2.5 and 5 mg kg-1 CdCl2 the metal salts decreased fertility in an additive fashion, whereas at the highest CdCl2 dose (10 mg kg-1) a marked ameliorating effect of ZnCl2 (10 and 20 mg kg-1) on cadmium (Cd)-caused sterility was observed...

OBJECTIVE: The luteal phase after ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is insufficient. Therefore, luteal phase supplementation is routinely applied in IVF. It may be postulated that premature luteolysis after ovarian hyperstimulation is due to supraphysiological steroid levels in the early luteal phase. In the present study, high doses of steroids are administered after the LH surge in normo-ovulatory volunteers in order to investigate whether this intervention gives rise to endocrine changes and a shortening of the luteal phase...

The wide abuse of the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate by athletes and adolescents for enhancement of sporting performance and physical appearance may be associated with testicular toxicity and infertility. On the other hand, taurine; a free β-amino acid with remarkable antioxidant activity, is used in taurine-enriched beverages to boost the muscular power of athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of the possible protective effects of taurine on nandrolone decanoate-induced testicular and sperm toxicity in rats...

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between changes in serum 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) concentrations and improvement in clinical symptoms in primary premature ejaculation with paroxetine treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 142 men aged 18-65 years with a history of lifelong premature ejaculation and an intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) <120 s were included in this study. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to IELT: IELT ≤30 s (group A), (IELT >30 s and ≤60 s (group B), and IELT >60 s and <120 s (group C)...

Prolactin (PRL) has been long deemed as a hormone involved only in female reproduction. However, PRL is a surprising hormone and, since its identification in the 1970s, its attributed functions have greatly increased. However, its specific role in male health is still widely unknown. Recently, low PRL has been associated with reduced ejaculate and seminal vesicle volume in infertile subjects. In addition, in men consulting for sexual dysfunction, hypoprolactinemia has been associated with erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, findings further confirmed in the general European population and infertile men...

BACKGROUND: Premature ejaculation (PE) is the inability to delay ejaculation, occurring sooner than they or their partner would like during sexual activities. PE is a challenging problem that can affect sexual enjoyment and may harm relationships of couples and affect their quality of life. In idiopathic PE, several helpful techniques and medicines are recommended, but none of them has yielded satisfactory results. OBJECTIVES: Our objective in this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of clomiphene as a selective estrogen receptor modulator on the treatment of idiopathic PE...

Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics (EMLA) is recommended for use off-label as a treatment for premature ejaculation (PE). Other topical anaesthetics are available, some of which have been evaluated against oral treatments. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for topical anaesthetics in the management of PE. Bibliographic databases including MEDLINE were searched to August 2014. The primary outcome was intra-vaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT)...

It is well accepted that stress, measured by increased glucocorticoid secretion, leads to profound reproductive dysfunction. In times of stress, glucocorticoids activate many parts of the fight or flight response, mobilizing energy and enhancing survival, while inhibiting metabolic processes that are not necessary for survival in the moment. This includes reproduction, an energetically costly procedure that is very finely regulated. In the short term, this is meant to be beneficial, so that the organism does not waste precious energy needed for survival...

D-aspartate (D-Asp) is an endogenous amino acid present in vertebrate tissues, with particularly high levels in the testis. In vivo studies indicate that D-Asp indirectly stimulates spermatogenesis through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Moreover, in vitro studies have demonstrated that D-Asp up-regulates testosterone production in Leydig cells by enhancing expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. In this study, a cell line derived from immortalized type-B mouse spermatogonia retaining markers of mitotic germ cells (GC-1) was employed to explore more direct involvement of D-Asp in spermatogenesis...