Sains Malaysiana 53(5)(2024): 1219-1234

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5305-18

Effect of Edible Bird Nest Supplementation against Busulfan-Induced Oligospermia in Adult Rats

(Kesan Suplemen Sarang Burung Walit terhadap Oligospermia Teraruh Busulfan pada Tikus Dewasa)

NURUL ATIQAH AZHAR¹, KHAIRUL OSMAN², FARAH HANAN FATHIHAH JAFFAR¹, CHUA KIEN HUI¹, MOHD FARISYAM MAT ROS¹, AINI FARZANA ZULKEFLI¹ & SITI FATIMAH IBRAHIM^1,*

¹Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000

Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

²Center for Diagnostics, Therapeutics & Investigations (CODTIS), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 8 August 2023/Accepted: 29 March 2024

Abstract

WHO estimates that between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals are facing infertility globally. Male infertility contributes to one-third of the problem with oligospermia as a primary underlying cause. Edible bird nest (EBN), a nutritional natural product, has the potential to improve male fertility status. However, the scientific evidence on oligospermia is sparse. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of EBN supplementation in busulfan-induced oligospermia of adult rats. Thirty-six eight-week-old Sprague Dawley male rats (N=36) were randomly and equally divided into six groups (n=6): Control, Sham, Busulfan, EBN 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/daily. A single dose of 10 mg/kg busulfan was injected intraperitoneally to induce oligospermia. Daily EBN supplementation was administered for 28 consecutive days, started one day following the busulfan injection. Findings showed that sperm concentration, spermatogenesis index scoring, seminiferous tubule diameter, and germ cell height were reduced in busulfan-induced oligospermia. Meanwhile, the apoptosis status was significantly increased. EBN supplementation had significantly increased sperm concentration, spermatogenesis index scoring, germ cell height, and gene expression of p38 and MAPK14. EBN supplementation also reduced apoptosis in the oligospermia group in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, daily EBN supplementation has a protective effect in busulfan-induced oligospermia by increasing sperm production, preserving histological features of the testes, reducing apoptosis, and improving gene expression of p38 and MAPK14.

Keywords: Edible bird nest; oligospermia; p38; spermatogenesis; sperm concentration

Abstrak

WHO menganggarkan bahawa antara 48 juta pasangan dan 186 juta individu menghadapi ketidaksuburan di seluruh dunia. Kemandulan lelaki menyumbang kepada satu pertiga daripada masalah ketidaksuburan tersebut dengan oligospermia merupakan punca utama. Sarang burung walit (EBN), produk semula jadi yang mengandungi banyak khasiat, berpotensi untuk meningkatkan status kesuburan lelaki. Walau bagaimanapun, bukti saintifik mengenai oligospermia masih kurang. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai keberkesanan suplementasi EBN terhadap oligospermia teraruh busulfan dalam tikus dewasa. Tiga puluh enam ekor tikus jantan Sprague Dawley (N=36) berumur lapan minggu dibahagikan secara rawak kepada enam kumpulan (n=6): Kawalan, Sham, Busulfan, EBN 250, 500 dan 1000 mg/kg/hari. Suntikan tunggal 10 mg/kg busulfan dilakukan secara intraperitoneal untuk mengaruh oligospermia. Suplementasi EBN diberikan selama 28 hari berturut-turut, bermula sehari selepas suntikan busulfan dilakukan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kepekatan sperma, skor indeks spermatogenesis, diameter tubul seminiferus dan ketinggian sel germa menurun di dalam kumpulan oligospermia teraruh busulfan. Status apoptosis turut meningkat secara signifikan. Suplementasi EBN telah meningkatkan kepekatan sperma, skor indeks spermatogenesis, ketinggian sel germa serta pengekspresan gen p38 dan MAPK14 secara signifikan. Suplementasi EBN juga menurunkan status apoptosis secara kebergantungan dos. Kesimpulannya, suplementasi EBN harian mempunyai kesan perlindungan terhadap oligospermia teraruh busulfan dengan meningkatkan penghasilan sperma, memelihara ciri histologi testis, mengurangkan apoptosis dan meningkatkan pengekspresan gen p38 dan MAPK14.

Kata kunci: Kepekatan sperma; oligospermia; p38; sarang burung walit; spermatogenesis

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*Corresponding author; email: timi@ukm.edu.my