Oligospermia, characterized by a low sperm count in semen, is a major cause of male infertility and may result from various factors including infections, lifestyle choices, retrograde ejaculation, tumors, hormonal imbalances, drug treatments, and environmental exposures. Animal models play a crucial role in understanding its pathophysiology, identifying therapeutic targets, and evaluating potential treatments. The current review highlights experimental models used to induce oligospermia in laboratory animals, focusing on chemical, surgical, and radiation-based approaches. We review the reversible and irreversible methods commonly employed to study impaired spermatogenesis, along with the key endpoints used to assess testicular function and sperm quality. Standard housing and feeding conditions relevant to oligospermia research are also summarized to support reproducibility and methodological consistency in experimental designs.

Objective: To systematically review the effects of administering metformin and glutathione alone and in coformulation with other compounds on the fertility and reproductive health of diabetic male rodents.

Methods: The guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) were followed to conduct this systematic review. Studies published until August 2024 in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched, identified, screened, and selected for a detailed review. The keywords included metformin, diabetes, reproduction, glutathione, and rodent models.

Results: A total of 166 studies were identified, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. One additional study was identified through snowballing and citation tracking, bringing the total to 12 studies. The findings indicate that metformin and glutathione, administered alone or in combination with other compounds, improved sperm count, motility, and morphology; restored reproductive hormone levels; reduced oxidative stress markers; and improved testicular histopathology in diabetic male rodents.

Conclusions: Coformulation of metformin and glutathione with other compounds was found to be more effective in improving fertility and reproductive parameters in diabetic male rodents compared to mono-administration. However, further studies on the coformulation of metformin and glutathione are needed to confirm their efficacy and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Study registration:The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with registration number CRD42024561820.

Objective: To investigate the potential of oral probiotics to improve sperm motility and decrease DNA fragmentation in men diagnosed with asthenozoospermia.

Methods: Men diagnosed with asthenozoospermia, aged between 18 and 40 years, were randomly assigned to receive probiotic or placebo for 10 weeks. Sperm parameters (count, motility, and morphology) and seminal fluid biochemical markers were assessed using light microscopy and Diff-Quik staining. Intracellular reactive oxygen species levels were measured using the malondialdehyde (MDA) technique, while DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was evaluated through acidic aniline blue staining. Data from both groups were compared to determine the effects of probiotic supplementation.

Results: Sixteen men were included. The probiotic group (n=8) showed a significant increase in total sperm motility (P<0.001) and progressive motility (P=0.003) compared to the placebo group (n=8). Additionally, sperm count in the probiotic group was significantly higher than in the placebo group, although other sperm parameters did not show significant changes. Notably, levels of MDA (P=0.027) and DFI (P=0.004) were significantly reduced in the probiotic group, indicating a decrease in oxidative stress and DNA damage.

Conclusions: Probiotic supplementation effectively enhances sperm quality by mitigating oxidative stress and reducing DNA damage, thereby improving sperm motility in men with asthenozoospermia.Study registration:The trial was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20220119053769N1).

Objective: To identify predictors of pregnancy and live birth outcomes in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles based on patient characteristics, hormonal profile, and embryo transfer variables.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 50 fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles selected from ART participants at a single tertiary ART center. Controlled ovarian stimulation was performed using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, and menotropins; oocyte retrieval occurred 36 h after trigger and embryo transfer was performed on day 3 or 5. Outcomes (chemical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, abortion, live birth) were compared across groups stratified by maternal age, antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), baseline luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E₂) at trigger, and endometrial thickness. Multivariate regression was used to identify independent predictors of live birth.

Results: A total of 124 ART patients were screened during the study period, of whom 50 participants meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the final analysis. The median age of the participants was 35.8 years [interquartile range (IQR) 32.5-39.6]. The median AFC was 8 (IQR 4-14), AMH level was 1.4 ng/mL (IQR 0.7-2.9), and the median endometrial thickness at embryo transfer was 10.2 mm (IQR 9.0-11.3). Chemical, ongoing, abortion, and live birth rates were 62%, 32%, 12%, and 16%, respectively. Younger maternal age (<35 years), higher AFC (>12), AMH 1-4 ng/mL, and endometrial thickness >10 mm were associated with more favorable pregnancy outcomes. In multivariate analysis, higher baseline LH (β=0.089; 95% CI 0.017-0.162; P=0.02) and greater endometrial thickness (β=0.145; 95% CI 0.011-0.278; P=0.04) independently predicted live birth, whereas age, AFC, AMH, and E₂ did not.

Conclusions: Maternal age, ovarian reserve markers, LH levels, and endometrial thickness collectively influence ART outcomes. Baseline LH and endometrial receptivity are key independent predictors of live birth and may guide individualized treatment strategies.

Objective: To evaluate and compare coagulation and hematological parameters in hypertensive and normotensive pregnant women.

Methods: This present cross-sectional study was carried out in the Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, India from September 2023 to March 2025. Hematological parameters [platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW)] were analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer, while coagulation parameters [prothrombin time (PT)/international normalised ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and D-dimer] were assessed by standard automated assays. Results were compared between normotensive and hypertensive groups and correlated with disease severity.

Results: The study included 212 antenatal females, with 106 normotensive pregnant women and 106 hypertensive women. Hypertensive women include cases of gestational hypertension (n=55); mild preeclampsia (n=39), and severe preeclampsia (n=12). A significant progressive decrease in platelet count and significant increases in MPV, PDW, PT, aPTT, and D-dimer levels were associated with increasing severity of pregnancy-induced hypertension (P<0.001). Women with severe preeclampsia had the lowest mean platelet counts and the highest coagulation parameter values compared to women with gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia, and normotensive pregnancies. These findings indicate enhanced platelet activation, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of the coagulation-fibrinolytic system with worsening disease severity.

Conclusions: Significant hematologic and coagulation abnormalities were present in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension. For better maternal-fetal outcomes and early management, routine monitoring is essential.

Objective: To investigate the impact of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels on the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in women of advanced age and also to explore the effect of age on the ICSI results in patients with low AMH levels.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved 143 infertile couples undergoing ICSI cycles at a fertility clinic in Iran from November 2021 to November 2023. Women aged <37 years with AMH <1 ng/mL and those aged ≥37 years were included. A standardized ovarian stimulation protocol was followed, leading to oocyte retrieval and ICSI on mature oocytes. Key oocyte quality indexes, including the maturation rate, fertilization rate, and embryo quality metrics, were evaluated. Poisson regression analyses were also employed to investigate the association between AMH levels and oocyte quality parameters in the advanced age groups, as well as the association between age and oocyte quality parameters in patients with low AMH.

Results: We analyzed 143 ICSI cycles from 143 infertile couples. The mean ages of the women and their partners were (38.2±4.7) years and (40.6±5.9) years, respectively, with a median (IQR) AMH level of 0.7 (0.4-2.0) ng/mL. Younger women with low AMH levels (<1 ng/mL) showed significantly better outcomes in terms of the number of ME oocytes [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.89, 95% CI 1.31-2.71; P=0.001], fertilized (2PN) oocytes (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.36-2.86; P<0.001), embryo number (aOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.44-3.24; P<0.001), and embryos suitable for freezing (aOR 2.88, 95% CI 1.80-4.61; P<0.001) compared to advanced-age women. Furthermore, among women of advanced age, those with normal AMH levels exhibited a significantly higher number of ME oocyte (aOR 3.55, 95% CI 2.31-5.44; P<0.001), fertilized (2PN) oocytes (aOR 3.54, 95% CI 2.29-5.49; P<0.001), embryo number (aOR 3.89, 95% CI 2.48-6.10; P<0.001), and embryos suitable for freezing (aOR 4.75, 95% CI 2.79-8.09; P<0.001) compared to those with low AMH levels.

Conclusions: AMH level is a significant predictor of oocyte and embryo number and quality in infertile women of advanced age undergoing ICSI cycles. Our findings suggest that maternal age markedly impacts the quality of oocytes and embryos in low AMH-level patients.