Background: Methotrexate (MTX), as an anti-folate agent, is widely used in the treatment of rheumatic disorders and malignant tumors, however it damages reproductive system in mice. The aim of this research was to study the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on embryo development and oxidative stress changes in the testis of mice treated with MTX.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, thirty-two adult male Naval Medical Research Institute mice, with average weight of 26±2 g, were divided into four groups. The first group (control) received distilled water (0.1 ml/mice/day), while the second group was intraperitoneally (IP) treated with 20 mg/kg MTX once per week. The third group was IP treated with 40 mg/kg/day EP, and the fourth group was IP treated with both 20 mg/kg MTX and 40 mg/kg/day EP for 30 days. At the end of treatment fertilization rate and embryonic development were evaluated. Differences between these groups were assessed by ANOVA using the SPSS software package for Windows with a Tukey-Kramer multiple post-hoc comparison test.Results: MTX treatment caused significant (P<0.05) increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced catalase (CAT), as well as leading to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryonic development. The improved effects of EP on the IVF were determined by the reduced level of MDA (index of oxidative stress) and significant increased level of CAT (a key antioxidant). We observed significant increase in fertilization rate and embryonic development in the treated group with both MTX and EP.Conclusion: It is suggested that EP can be useful in ameliorating testicular damages and Embryotoxicity induced by MTX. These effects could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Tarantula cubensis alcoholic extract (TCAE) is a homeopathic product used in the veterinary field. This study aimed to determine the effects of TCAE on cadmium (Cd) toxicity in the embryo. The study used 220 fertile, incubated chicken eggs divided into 11 equal groups on the 7th day of incubation. The groups comprised untreated and physiological saline control groups, a group with TCAE alone, four groups with varying doses of Cd alone and four groups with the same doses of Cd plus TCAE. At the end of the incubation period, the eggs were opened, kidney and liver tissue samples were taken for histopathology and the number of dead and living embryos were recorded. In the prsent study, the median lethal dose of Cd was determined to be 0.029 mg per egg and the median lethal dose of Cd plus TCAE was determined to be 0.020 mg per egg. The histopathological examinations determined that kidney and liver damage were increased when TCAE and Cd were administered together, that was higher than when Cd was given alone. Thus, TCAE, which had no toxic effect on the embryo when used alone, might increase the embryotoxic activity of Cd. However, more detailed studies are needed.

Objective: Cyclosporine (Cs), a cyclic undecapeptide with potent immunosuppressive activity, causes several adverse effects including reproductive toxicity. This study aims to examine the ability of Crataegus monogyna aqueous fruit extract as an antioxidant to protect against Cs-induced reproductive toxicity.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 32 adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of eight animals each. Rats in two groups received 40 mg/kg/day Cs for 45 days by oral gavage. In addition, one of the two groups received Crataegus monogyna aqueous extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day orally four hours after Cs administration. The remaining two groups consisted of a vehicle treated control (Cont) group and a Crataegus monogyna control (Cr) group. Differences between groups were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the SPSS software package for Windows.Results: Cs treatment caused a significant decrease in sperm count and viability with an increase in DNA damage and protamine deficiency of the sperm cells. We observed significant decreases in fertilization rate and embryonic development, in addition to an increased rate of embryo arrest in Cs-treated rats. Crataegus monogyna co-administration attenuated all Cs-induced negative changes in the above-mentioned parameters.Conclusion: Supplementation with Crataegus monogyna a queous fruit extract could be useful against reproductive toxicity during Cs treatment in a rat model.