Sperm functional parameters and erythrocytes oxidant-antioxidant imbalance during municipal landfill leachate treatment withdrawal in rats

Long-term landfill leachate exposure modulates antioxidant responses and causes cyto-genotoxic effects in Eisenia andrei earthworms

It is estimated that approximately 0.4% of the total leachate produced in a landfill is destined for treatment plants, while the rest can reach the soil and groundwater. In this context, this study aimed to perform leachate toxicity evaluations through immune system cytotoxic assessments, genotoxic (comet assay) appraisals and antioxidant system (superoxide dismutase - SOD; catalase - CAT, glutathione-S-transferase - GST; reduced glutathione - GSH and metallothionein - MT) evaluations in Eisenia andrei earthworms exposed to a Brazilian leachate for 77 days. The leachate sample contained high organic matter (COD - 10,630 mg L^-1) and ammoniacal nitrogen (2398 mg L^-1), as well as several metals, including Ca, Cr, Fe, Mg, Ni and Zn. Leachate exposure resulted in SOD activity alterations and increased CAT activity and MT levels. Decreased GST activity and GSH levels were also observed. Antioxidant system alterations due to leachate exposure led to increased malondialdehyde levels as a result of lipid peroxidation after the 77 day-exposure. An inflammatory process was also observed in exposed earthworms, evidenced by increased amoebocyte density, and DNA damage was also noted. This study demonstrates for the first time that sublethal effect assessments in leachate-exposed earthworms comprise an important tool for solid waste management.

Impact of groundwater samples and leachates from Gbagede dumpsite, Amoyo, Kwara State, Nigeria, on testes and prostate of male Wistar rats: A biochemical and histological study

This study evaluated the impact of groundwater samples and leachate from Gbagede dumpsite in Amoyo, Kwara State, on the testicular and prostatic function indices of male rats. The groundwater sample 1 (GW1), groundwater sample 2 (GW2), 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% leachate progressively reduced (p < .05) feed intake, groundwater and leachate intake, body weight, weights of testes and prostate, and testes-body weight ratio. The groundwater and leachates significantly (p < .05) reduced the sperm count, motility, normal morphology and testicular volume; activities of semen acid phosphatase (ACP) and α-glucosidase, testicular alkaline phosphatase, ACP, ᵧ-GT, lactate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, catalase and superoxide dismutase; testicular total protein, glycogen, total cholesterol, sialic acid, testosterone, reduced glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, zinc, iron and copper; serum LH and FSH; prostatic calcium and phosphate. Treatments increased testicular malondialdehyde, prostate-specific antigen and ACP whilst prostatic pH remained significantly unaltered. Only the leachates reduced prostate-body weight ratio. The treatments induced distortions of seminiferous tubules, destroyed spermatogonic cells and degenerated prostatic acinus. The study concluded that metals in the groundwater and leachate samples have adversely impacted on the testes and prostates of the male rats via endocrine disruption and oxidative stress, with attendant implications on reproductive capacity.

Chronic Exposure to Water of Lake Qaroun Induced Metal-Related Testicular Damage and Endocrine Disruption in Male Fish

The uncontrolled releasing of hazardous wastes into Lake Qaroun was adversely impacting the aquatic environment and its biota. Therefore, this approach was designed to investigate the impact of these discharges on the reproductive and testicular function of Oreochromis niloticus. Several biomarkers were applied on the testicular tissues as metal bioaccumulation levels, histological examination with recording the ovotestis appearance and antioxidant status after 45 days of exposure to 0, 10, 20, & 30% of Lake Qaroun water (LQW). The bioaccumulated Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Cd were unequally distributed in the testes but all these metals showed a significant concentration-dependent elevation among the studied groups. The exposure to LQW significantly increased the histological alterations in the testicular tissues as vacuolar degeneration, loss of tubular organization, and degeneration of Leydig cell. Based on the frequent appearance of histopathological abnormalities and ovotestis recording, the most deformed testicular tissues were observed in the 30% LQW-exposed groups. The ovotestis severity index (OSI) was significantly raised in LQW-exposed groups compared to the control group. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase as well as glutathione-reduced levels were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in testes after chronic exposure to LQW. On the other pole, the activities of glutathione peroxidase enzyme and malondialdehyde formation were sharply increased. In view of the above, the exposure to LQW induced metal-related oxidative damage to the testicular tissues and impaired the male reproductive health. This study showed strong correlations between the anthropogenic activities around Lake Qaroun and the reproductive dysfunction in fish.

Zinc inhibits the reproductive toxicity of Zearalenone in immortalized murine ovarian granular KK-1 cells

Zearalenone (ZEA) mainly injures the reproductive system of mammals. In the present study, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which zinc inhibits ZEA-induced reproductive damage in KK-1 cells for the first time. The results shown that both zinc sulfate and zinc gluconate addition increased the intracellular zinc concentration and influenced the expression of zinc transporters (Slc30a1 and Slc39a1) in a time-dependent manner. Co-incubation of zinc with ZEA significantly reduced the ZEA-induced reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde elevation by promoting the transcription of Mtf1 and Mt2. Meanwhile, two different zincs inhibited the ZEA-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and elevation of late-stage apoptosis via activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by recovering the mRNA and protein expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, Casp3, Casp9). Zinc also recovered cells from S-phase cell cycle arrest. In addition, both of them promoted the ZEA-induced estrogen production but regulated the expression of steroidogenic enzymes (Star, Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Cyp17a1) in different way. All these results indicated that zinc could inhibit the reproductive toxicity of ZEA.

TiO2 Nanoparticle Exposure Decreases Spermatogenesis via Biochemical Dysfunctions in the Testis of Male Mice

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) have been demonstrated to suppress spermatogenesis in animals, while there is little data related to the biochemical dysfunctions during spermatogenesis due to exposure to TiO2 NPs. In this study, male mice have been exposed to TiO2 NPs via intragastric administration for 60 consecutive days. The findings showed that TiO2 NP exposure resulted in lesions of testis and epididymis, deductions in sperm concentration and sperm motility, and an increase of the number of abnormal sperm in mice. Furthermore, TiO2 NP exposure with 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kgbw decreased activities of lactate dehydrogenase (-11.59% to -39.84%), sorbitol dehydrogenase (-23.56% to -57.33%), succinate dehydrogenase (-27.04% to -57.85%), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (-28.3% to -56.42%), Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (-15.59% to -53.11%), Ca(2+)-ATPase (-12.44% to -55.41%), and Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-ATPase (-28.25% to -65.72%), and elevated activities of acid phosphatase (+10.48% to +40.0%), alkaline phosphatase (+20.65% to +64.07%), and total nitric oxide synthase (+0.68- to +2.3-fold) in the testes of mice, respectively. In addition, TiO2 NP exposure caused excessive production of reactive oxygen species (+16.15% to +110.62%), and increased malondialdehyde of lipid peroxidation product (+38.96% to +118.07%), carbonyl of protein oxidative product (+20.98% to +108.1%), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine of DNA oxidative product (+0.9- to +1.83-fold) in the testes, respectively. It implied that spermatogenesis suppression caused by TiO2 NP exposure may be associated with alterations of testicular marked enzymes and oxidative stress in the testes.

Municipal landfill leachate-induced testicular oxidative damage is associated with biometal accumulation and endocrine disruption in rats

Improper management of hazardous wastes adversely impacts the environment and the public health. The present study was aimed at investigating the influence of Olushosun municipal landfill leachate (OMLL) from Ojota in the Lagos State of Nigeria on testicular function by assessing the plasma concentrations of reproductive hormones, testicular biometal levels, and antioxidant levels as well as observing the histological alterations in testes and epididymides of rats after exposure to 0, 12.5, and 25% OMLL in drinking water for 7 days. Exposure to OMLL significantly decreased the daily fluid intake, but it resulted in testicular biometal accumulation as follows: lead > cadmium > nickel > iron > copper. Acute exposure to OMLL induced oxidative stress and increased the activities of marker enzymes of testicular function but markedly decreased the circulatory concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, testosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine. Testicular and epididymal degeneration with significant decrease in sperm quality and quantity were observed in OMLL-exposed rats. Collectively, the data presented herein indicate that exposure to OMLL-induced testicular dysfunction associated with biometal accumulation and endocrine disruption in rats. If the effects can be extrapolated to humans, OMLL may present significant health implications for individuals exposed to OMLL-contaminated substances.