Photobiomodulation is more effective than long-term scrotal hyperthermia in improving testis tissue and spermatogenesis in mice with busulfan-induced azoospermia

Fakhredin Aqajanpor; Bahman Jalali Kondori; Mohammad Hossein Asadi; Mehdi Raei; Maryam Ghasem Nezhadian; Hossein Bahadoran

doi:10.5653/cerm.2024.07430

Male Fertility Male Factor Treatment

Photobiomodulation is more effective than long-term scrotal hyperthermia in improving testis tissue and spermatogenesis in mice with busulfan-induced azoospermia

Aqajanpor F, Kondori BJ, Asadi MH, Raei M, Nezhadian MG, Bahadoran H

Published September 2025 Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine

DOI 10.5653/cerm.2024.07430 PMID 40351155 PMC PMC12411876

RRM Academy Synopsis

Testis laser therapy improved sperm counts in busulfan-treated mice

In 40 adult male mice, laser treatment of the testis improved sperm parameters and testis tissue in busulfan-induced azoospermia. The gains were larger after busulfan injury than after scrotal heat injury.

Key Findings

Sperm count fell in the hyperthermia and busulfan groups. Laser treatment raised it in both (p<0.01 and p<0.001), and the busulfan plus laser group was higher than hyperthermia plus laser (p<0.05).
Laser treatment lowered testicular reactive oxygen species in both injury groups (p<0.0001 for both) and raised glutathione (p<0.0001 for both). Glutathione was higher after busulfan plus laser (p<0.05).
Serum testosterone rose with laser treatment in busulfan-injected mice (p<0.01) and was higher in busulfan plus laser than in hyperthermia plus laser (p<0.05).
Testicular volume increased with laser treatment in busulfan-injected mice (p<0.001), and sperm motility improved (p<0.01). Volume gain exceeded that of hyperthermia plus laser (p<0.05).
Laser treatment raised Stra8 expression compared with busulfan alone (p<0.001). Expression of Pcna and Stra8 was higher in busulfan plus laser than in hyperthermia plus laser (p<0.05 and p<0.01).

Interpretation

The study is a laboratory animal experiment with a control group, two injury models and eight mice per group. A laser was aimed at each testis on a fixed schedule for 35 days, so the results describe that targeted, dose-specific treatment in mice. In these mice, the authors link the gains to lower oxidative stress and higher expression of genes that drive germ cell division. The authors state that further research is required.

RRM Context

Restorative reproductive medicine looks for the cause of low sperm production. The authors name scrotal heat and toxic drugs as recognized causes of male infertility. In their mice, injured testis tissue recovered when treatment reached the organ. Restorative care evaluates both partners.

Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.

Abstract

Objective

The use of photobiomodulation (PBM) for tissue repair has gained acceptance. This study investigated and compared the effects of PBM on mice exposed to scrotal hyperthermia and busulfan.

Methods

Forty 8-week-old adult mice were divided into five groups: (I) control, (II) hyperthermia, (III) busulfan, (IV) hyperthermia+PBM, and (V) busulfan+PBM. To induce azoospermia in groups II and IV, the scrotum of the mice was exposed to water at 43 °C every other day for 5 weeks. In groups III and V, a single dose of busulfan (45 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally. Mice in groups IV and V received laser irradiation (0.03 J/cm2/sec) every other day for 35 days.

Results

Molecular data analysis revealed that the levels of glutathione and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna) and stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8) genes were significantly higher in the busulfan+PBM group than in the hyperthermia+PBM group. Additionally, the number of testicular cells, tissue volume, and sperm parameters were also markedly higher in the busulfan+PBM group. Furthermore, this group exhibited a notable increase in serum testosterone levels.

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that laser therapy enhances testicular function and spermatogenesis by reducing the formation of reactive oxygen species and increasing the expression of mitotic genes following the induction of scrotal hyperthermia and busulfan injection. However, the effectiveness of PBM was greater in the busulfan+PBM group.

Topics

Male Fertility › Male Factor Treatment › Medical Management · Therapeutics › Emerging Therapies › Light Therapy

Fakhredin Aqajanpor, Bahman Jalali Kondori, Mohammad Hossein Asadi, Mehdi Raei, Maryam Ghasem Nezhadian, Hossein Bahadoran

F Aqajanpor, B Kondori, M Asadi, M Raei, M Nezhadian, H Bahadoran

PMID 40351155 40351155 DOI 10.5653/cerm.2024.07430 10.5653/cerm.2024.07430 Aqajanpor et al. 2025, Aqajanpor 2025

Photobiomodulation is more effective than long-term scrotal hyperthermia in improving testis tissue and spermatogenesis in mice with busulfan-induced azoospermia

Testis laser therapy improved sperm counts in busulfan-treated mice

Key Findings

Interpretation

RRM Context

Abstract

Topics

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