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Photobiomodulation Therapy Improves Spermatogenesis in Busulfan-Induced Infertile Mouse

  • Reproductive Biology: Original Article
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Abstract

About 50% of infertility is caused by men. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of photobiomodulation on spermatogenesis in a busulfan-induced infertile mouse as a testicular degeneration treatment. Thirty-two adult NMRI male mice were divided into 4 groups: control, busulfan, PBMT 0.03 J/cm2, and laser 0.2 J/cm2. In the study, azoospermia was induced by busulfan as a testicular degeneration, and then, they were treated using photobiomodulation therapy at 0.03 J/cm2 and 0.2 J/cm2 energy densities. Sperm parameters, stereological analysis, serum testosterone levels, together with SDH activity, MDA production oxidized as a marker for lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSSG) and glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and ATP production as well as TUNEL assay were assessed. Photobiomodulation therapy with 0.03 J/cm2 energy densities group revealed a significant increase the testosterone hormone level and spermatogenic cells with the reduction of apoptotic cells and marked increase in GSH, ATP, and SDH levels and decrease the levels of MDA and ROS production in the busulfan-induced mice when compared with the control and sham groups. In conclusion, the photobiomodulation therapy (0.03 J/cm2 energy density) may provide benefits on the spermatogenesis following busulfan injection and might be an alternative treatment to the patients with oligospermia and azoospermia in a dose-dependent manner.

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Acknowledgments

This study is derived from the thesis formulated by Fatreh Rezaei, the MSc student at Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Registration No:15128).

Funding

This research was funded by the Laser Application in the Medical Science Research Center,Shahid Beheshti University of the Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Grant number: 15128).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser Application in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical, Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Fatereh Rezaei & Mohammad-Amin Abdollahifar

  2. Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Fatereh Rezaei, Mohammad Bayat, Hamid Nazarian, Abbas Aliaghaei, Hojjat-Allah Abaszadeh, Abdollah Amini & Mohammad-Amin Abdollahifar

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Parvaneh Naserzadeh

  4. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Vahid Ebrahimi

  5. Department of Anatomical Sciences & Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Shabnam Abdi

Authors
  1. Fatereh Rezaei
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  2. Mohammad Bayat
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  3. Hamid Nazarian
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  4. Abbas Aliaghaei
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  6. Parvaneh Naserzadeh
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  7. Abdollah Amini
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  10. Mohammad-Amin Abdollahifar
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Contributions

MA. A designed this study. MA. A and F. R conducted the stereological study and drafted the manuscript. M. B carried out the Laser study. H. N carried out sperm analysis. F. R carried out the animal model and provided the clinical data, and sample. carried out the sperm analysis, molecular test, A. A and HA. A carried out the immunohistochemistry and Molecular test. P. N carried out the cellular analysis. A. A and V. E performed the statistical analysis and helped to write the draft of manuscript. A. A and S.A carried out the immunohistochemistry. S. A helped to designed this study and writing the draft of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad-Amin Abdollahifar.

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Ethical approval

The experimental protocol and all procedures performed in studies involving the use of animals were reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee at Shahid Beheshti University of

Medical Sciences (IR. SBMU. SM.REC. 1398.186).

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Rezaei, F., Bayat, M., Nazarian, H. et al. Photobiomodulation Therapy Improves Spermatogenesis in Busulfan-Induced Infertile Mouse. Reprod. Sci. 28, 2789–2798 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00557-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00557-8

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