Histological study of the possible protective effect of pomegranate juice on bisphenol-A induced changes of the caput epididymal epithelium and sperms of adult albino rats

Resveratrol ameliorates bisphenol A-induced testicular toxicity in adult male rats: a stereological and functional study

BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widely used synthetic chemicals worldwide. BPA as an endocrine disruptor affects the reproductive systems through estrogenic and antiandrogenic proprieties. Resveratrol (RES) as a natural polyphenol and potent antioxidant exhibits protective effects against reproductive toxicity by inhibiting of oxidative stress. 48 male rats were divided into eight groups (n=6), including CONTROL, OLIVE OIL (0.5 ml/ day), Carboxy methylcellulose (CMC) (1 ml of 10 g/l), RES (100mg/kg/day), low dose of BPA (25 mg/kg/day), high dose of BPA (50 mg/kg/day), low dose of BPA + RES, and high dose of BPA + RES. All treatments were done orally per day for 56 days. At the end of the 8th week, blood samples were collected for hormone assays. Then, the sperm parameters were analyzed, and the left testis was removed for stereological study.

RESULTS

We showed a significant decrease in sperm parameters in the low and high doses of BPA groups compared to control groups (P<0.05). The volume of testicular components as well as the diameter and length of seminiferous tubules significantly reduced (11-64 %), and the total number of the testicular cell types decreased (34-67 %) on average in the low and high doses of BPA groups. Moreover, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone hormones concentration showed a significant reduction in both doses of BPA groups (P<0.01). Nonetheless, treatment with RES could ameliorate all the above-mentioned changes in the low and high doses of BPA groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

RES could prevent BPA-induced testicular structural changes and sperm quality via improving gonadotropin hormones and testosterone levels.

Oxidative Stress and BPA Toxicity: An Antioxidant Approach for Male and Female Reproductive Dysfunction

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a non-persistent anthropic and environmentally ubiquitous compound widely employed and detected in many consumer products and food items; thus, human exposure is prolonged. Over the last ten years, many studies have examined the underlying molecular mechanisms of BPA toxicity and revealed links among BPA-induced oxidative stress, male and female reproductive defects, and human disease. Because of its hormone-like feature, BPA shows tissue effects on specific hormone receptors in target cells, triggering noxious cellular responses associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. As a metabolic and endocrine disruptor, BPA impairs redox homeostasis via the increase of oxidative mediators and the reduction of antioxidant enzymes, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, alteration in cell signaling pathways, and induction of apoptosis. This review aims to examine the scenery of the current BPA literature on understanding how the induction of oxidative stress can be considered the "fil rouge" of BPA's toxic mechanisms of action with pleiotropic outcomes on reproduction. Here, we focus on the protective effects of five classes of antioxidants-vitamins and co-factors, natural products (herbals and phytochemicals), melatonin, selenium, and methyl donors (used alone or in combination)-that have been found useful to counteract BPA toxicity in male and female reproductive functions.

Effects of co-administered melatonin, fructose and bisphenol A (BPA) on rat epididymis and sperm characteristics

Consumption of fructose-rich food and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals continue to increase. High fructose consumption is associated with increased incidence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia and insulin resistance. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental contaminant that exhibits estrogen-like activity; it impairs reproductive organs, sperm production, spermatogenesis and fertility. We investigated the possible ameliorative effects of melatonin on rat epididymis and sperm characteristics following exposure to fructose and BPA. We used 42 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into seven groups. Group 1, control group, was treated with 25 mg/kg sesame oil + 25 mg/kg 0.1% ethanol. Group 2 was treated with 10% aqueous fructose. Group 3 was treated with 25 mg/kg BPA. Group 4 was treated with 10% fructose and 25 mg/kg BPA. Group 5 was treated with 10% fructose and 20 mg/kg melatonin. Group 6 was treated with 25 mg/kg BPA and 20 mg/kg melatonin. Group 7 was treated with 10% fructose, 25 mg/kg BPA and 20 mg/kg melatonin. After 60 days, epididymal tissue was removed and analyzed using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Sperm were counted, and sperm motility and viability were investigated. Administration of BPA caused significant damage to both epididymal tissue and sperm quality; melatonin reduced the damage, but did not prevent it completely.

Protective role of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced impairments of the follicular development, estrous cycle, gonadotropin and sex steroid hormones level of prepubertal rats

Ficus deltoidea is one of the well-known medicinal plants in Malaysia that is traditionally used by the Malay community to treat various ailments and for maintenance of female reproductive health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential protective roles of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced toxicity of the pituitary-ovarian axis in pre-pubertal female rats. In this study, four groups of pre-pubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were administered with the followings by oral gavage for a period of six weeks: NC (negative control- treated with vehicle), PC (positive control-treated with BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW), F (treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW, then exposed to BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW) and FC (Ficus deltoidea control - treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW). Daily vaginal smear, ovarian follicular development as well as gonadotropin and sexual-steroid hormone levels were determined. The findings showed that Ficus deltoidea demonstrated preventive role against BPA-induced toxicity on the ovaries. This was evident by the increased percentage of rats with normal estrous cycle, qualitatively reduced number of atretic follicles (as observed in histopathological examination) and normalization of the gonadotropins hormone (FSH) and sexual steroid hormone (progesterone) levels. In conclusion, Ficus deltoidea has the capability to prevent the effects of BPA toxicity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis of prepubertal female reproductive system, possibly due to its variety of phytochemical properties. Therefore, these findings strongly support the traditional belief that this medicinal plant is beneficial as daily dietary supplement for the maintenance of female reproductive health.

Improved effect of pumpkin seed oil against the bisphenol-A adverse effects in male mice

The present study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative role of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) against potential adverse effects of bisphenol-A (BPA) in male mice. BPA was administered to the mice orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight once a day for 28 successive days. While, PSO was administered to the mice orally at 1 mL/kg b w either before, with or after treatment of BPA, once a day for 28 successive days. The studied parameters were DNA damage evaluation using comet assay in liver and testes cells and micronucleus test in bone marrow; and histopathological examination of liver and testes tissues. Results revealed that BPA induced DNA damage in tested cells and marked histopathological alterations in liver and testes. In contrast, PSO treatments alleviated DNA damage and improved the histopathological alterations in liver and testes tissues. Furthermore, administration of mice with the PSO before BPA treatment was the best regimen in the alleviation of the adverse effects of BPA, followed by administration of PSO after then with treatment of BPA. It can be concluded that PSO may has a protective role against BPA genotoxicity and histopathological alterations in male mice.

Inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis cascade implications in bisphenol A-induced liver fibrosis in male rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a key monomer in the production of plastics. It has been shown to be hepatotoxic. Inflammation and oxidative stress are closely linked with liver fibrosis, the major contributing factor to hepatic failure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of chronic exposure to BPA on the development of hepatic fibrosis in male rats and to determine the cross-talk between the hepatic cytokine network, oxidative stress and apoptosis. For this purpose, 30 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three equal groups as follows: the first group was given no treatment (normal control group); the second group was given corn oil once daily by oral gavage for 8 weeks (vehicle control group); and the third group received BPA (50 mg/kg body weight/day, p.o.) for 8 weeks. BPA administration induced liver fibrosis as reflected in an increase in serum hepatic enzymes activities, hepatic hydroxyproline content and histopathological changes particularly increased collagen fibre deposition around the portal tract. In addition, there was inflammation (as reflected in increase in interleukin-1beta 'IL-1β', decrease in interleukin-10 'IL-10' serum levels and increase in IL-1β/IL-10 ratio), oxidative stress (as reflected in increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) content and inhibition of catalase (CAT) activity) and apoptosis [as reflected in an increase in caspase-3 level and a decrease in numbers of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2)-immunopositive hepatocytes]. Interestingly, BPA had an upregulating effect on an extracellular matrix turnover gene [as reflected in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)] and a downregulating effect on its inhibitor gene [as reflected in tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2)] expression. Thus, the mechanism by which BPA induced liver fibrosis seems to be related to stimulation of the inflammatory response, along with oxidative stress, the apoptotic pathway and activation of extracellular matrix turnover.

Bisphenol A exposure and healing effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. plant extract (APE) in bisphenol A-induced reproductive toxicity in albino rats

The current study presents the bisphenol A exposure and the ameliorative effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris on testicular toxicity induced by bisphenol A. Adult male albino rats were divided into five groups of five animals each: A (control), B (vehicle control), C (toxic), D (protective), and E (ameliorative) were served distilled water, olive oil, bisphenol A (BPA) at 100 mg/kg body weight, A. capillus-veneris plant extract at 25 mg/kg body weight, and BPA + A. capillus-veneris, respectively. All of the doses were administered orally for 15 days, and the rats were then sacrificed. Blood samples for the testosterone assay and both testes were collected for histological examination. The body weight, paired testes weight, relative tissue weight index, Johnsen scoring of tubules, and level of serum testosterone decreased in BPA-treated rats. Similarly, histological examination of the testes in BPA-treated animals revealed a lower number of Leydig cells, an irregular basement membrane, sloughing of germinal layers, vacuolization, a lower number of spermatocytes, and debris in the lumen. However, co-administration of A. capillus-veneris with BPA increased the total antioxidative capacity (330.82 ± 22.46 μmol/mg protein) of the testes and restored the serum testosterone level (1.70 ng/ml); histological features showed restoration in the stages of spermatogenesis. Conclusively, A. capillus-veneris plant extract overcomes the estrogenic effects of BPA on the reproductive system of rats and protects rats' testes against BPA-induced injury/damage via an antioxidative mechanism that appears to be conciliated.

Ameliorating effect of pomegranate juice consumption on carbon tetrachloride-induced sperm damages, lipid peroxidation, and testicular apoptosis

The aim of this study was to investigate whether pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption has an ameliorating effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced sperm damages and testicular apoptosis associated with the oxidative stress in male rats. The study comprised of four groups (groups 1-4). Group 1 received olive oil + distilled water daily; group 2 was treated with 5 ml/kg PJ + olive oil daily; group 3 was treated with 0.25 ml/kg CCl4 dissolved in olive oil, weekly + distilled water daily; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily PJ. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular catalase activity, significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages when compared with the control group. However, significant ameliorations were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, MDA level, apoptotic index, and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with PJ when compared with group given CCl4 only. In conclusion, PJ consumption ameliorates the CCl4-induced damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the lipid peroxidation.