Preventive role of exogenous testosterone on cisplatin-induced gonadal toxicity: an experimental placebo-controlled prospective trial

Testosterone restores TM3 and TM4 cell viability, reduces reactive oxygen species generation, and protects against atrazine-induced stereological changes in rat testes

In this study, we performed the stereological examination of rat testes and evaluated the protective effect of testosterone against atrazine (ATZ) toxicity in TM3 Leydig and TM4 Sertoli cells. Testosterone intake in rats increased the volumetric density of the seminiferous tubules; tubular diameter; germinal epithelial height; number of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, round spermatids, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells; and Johnsen scores compared with the values after ATZ treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, testosterone increased the viability of TM3 cells and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in TM4 cells compared to the ATZ-treated group. In conclusion, exogenous testosterone intake maintains testicular morphometry and spermatogenesis in rats, and minimizes cell death and ROS generation in testicular cell lines exposed to ATZ. However, TM4 cells are more responsive to testosterone-mediated regulation of ROS generation induced by ATZ than TM3 cells.

BCL2-associated athanogene 6 exon24 contributes to testosterone synthesis and male fertility in mammals

Objectives

BCL2‐associated athanogene 6 (BAG6) plays critical roles in spermatogenesis by maintaining testicular cell survival. Our previous data showed porcine BAG6 exon24‐skipped transcript is highly expressed in immature testes compared with mature testes. The objective of this study is to reveal the functional significance of BAG6 exon24 in mammalian spermatogenesis.

Materials and Methods

CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to generate Bag6 exon24 knockout mice. Testes and cauda epididymal sperm were collected from mice. TMT proteomics analysis was used to discover the protein differences induced by Bag6 exon24 deletion. Testosterone enanthate was injected into mice to generate a high‐testosterone mice model. H&E staining, qRT‐PCR, western blotting, vector/siRNA transfection, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, transmission electron microscopy, TUNEL and ELISA were performed to investigate the phenotypes and molecular basis.

Results

Bag6 exon24 knockout mice show sub‐fertility along with partially impaired blood‐testis barrier, increased apoptotic testicular cell rate and abnormal sperm morphology. Endoplasmic reticulum stress occurs in Bag6 exon24‐deficient testes and sterol regulatory element‐binding transcription factor 2 is activated; as a result, cytochrome P450 family 51 subfamily A member 1 expression is up‐regulated, which causes a high serum testosterone level. Additionally, serine/arginine‐rich splicing factor 1 down‐regulates BAG6 exon24‐skipped transcripts in porcine Sertoli cells by binding to 35–51 nt on BAG6 exon24 via its N‐terminal RNA‐recognition domain.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal the critical roles of BAG6 exon24 in testosterone biosynthesis and male fertility, which provides new insights into the regulation of spermatogenesis and pathogenesis of subfertility in mammals.

The in-vivo assessment of Turkish propolis and its nano form on testicular damage induced by cisplatin

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin (CP), which are associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis, may adversely affect the reproductive system. This study tests whether administration of propolis and nano-propolis (NP) can alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats with testicular damage induced by CP.

METHODS

In this study, polymeric nanoparticles including propolis were synthesized with a green sonication method and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and wet scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. In total, 56 rats were divided into the following seven groups: control, CP, propolis, NP-10, CP + propolis, CP + NP-10, and CP + NP-30. Propolis (100 mg/kg), NP-10 (10 mg/kg), and NP-30 (30 mg/kg) treatments were administered by gavage daily for 21 d, and CP (3 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose. After the experiment, oxidative stress parameters, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT), and apoptotic pathways including B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were measured in testicular tissues. Furthermore, sperm quality and weights of the testis, epididymis, right cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were evaluated.

RESULTS

Propolis and NP (especially NP-30) were able to preserve oxidative balance (decreased MDA levels and increased GSH, CAT, and GPx activities) and activate apoptotic pathways (decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2) in the testes of CP-treated rats. Sperm motility in the control, CP, and CP + NP-30 groups were 60%, 48.75%, and 78%, respectively (P < 0.001). Especially, NP-30 application completely corrected the deterioration in sperm features induced by CP.

CONCLUSION

The results show that propolis and NP treatments mitigated the side effects of CP on spermatogenic activity, antioxidant situation, and apoptosis in rats.

Paternal Fenitrothion Exposures in Rats Causes Sperm DNA Fragmentation in F0 and Histomorphometric Changes in Selected Organs of F1 Generation

The adverse effects of maternal pesticides exposure on the progeny is very well established. However, the impact of paternal exposure to pesticides such as Fenitrothion (FNT) on the histomorphometry of progeny’s organs in unexposed mothers are much less well studied. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of paternal FNT exposure on the sperm quality of the parent rat and its effects on the histomorphometry of the progeny’s organs. Randomly, male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) categorized as F0 were distributed equally into three groups namely Control, FNT-10, and FNT-20. Control received 1 mL/kg corn oil while FNT-10 and FNT-20 received 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of FNT, respectively, via oral force feeding for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study, male rats were mated with unexposed female rats and the male rats were sacrificed to obtain sperm for sperm characterization and DNA damage evaluation. Meanwhile, the rats’ progeny (F1) namely pControl, pFNT-10, and pFNT-20 were left to grow until postnatal day 70 before being sacrificed to obtain the matured organs for histology and morphometric analysis. Our results showed that both doses of FNT reduced sperm quality and caused DNA fragmentation in F0 rats compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The number of Leydig cells as well as the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and glomerulus of the pFNT-20 group had significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared with the pControl group. The Bowman’s space of the pFNT-20 group had significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared with the pFNT-10 and pControl groups. Therefore, paternal exposure to FNT reduced the sperm quality and increased sperm DNA fragmentation in F0 male Sprague Dawley rats and altered the histology and morphometry of the selected organs in the F1 progeny.

Lophira lanceolata protects testicular and spermatological damages induced by cisplatin in male Wistar rats

Background

Chemotherapy is associated with male infertility. Cisplatin (CP), an antineoplastic agent has been successfully used for the treatment of diverse kinds of malignancies, however, the use of this effective agent could induce oxidative stress injury, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and testicular damage. Combined CP chemotherapy with plant extracts can diminish the toxicity and enhance the antitumor efficacy of the drug. The objective of the study was to determine the protective effect Lophira lanceolata leaf extract (LLLE) on CP-induced toxicity on male reproductive organs.

Methods

The study was carried out with 30 (n = 30) male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). The rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 5 rats each. Rats in group 1 (Control) were administered distilled water per os. Rats in group 2 were administered 5 mg/kg of CP intraperitoneally (i.p). Rats in groups 3 and 4 were administered per os LLLE at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight and rats in groups 5 and 6 were administered 5 mg/kg body weight of CP + LLLE at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively.

Results

The results showed a significant decrease in the sperm parameters in the group treated with CP alone when compared with the control and there in the sperm parameters in the groups administered CP + LLLE. The body and organ weights of the rats were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the CP treated group relative to the control. However, there was an increase in the weight of the organs in the LLLE pretreated groups. The photomicrographs showed degenerative changes in the testicular tissues of the rats administered CP alone whereas the group pretreated with the LLLE showed amelioration induced by the CP. Our study revealed that CP treatment has deleterious effects on sperm parameters and testicular tissues and the accessory sex organs (Epididymis, prostate, seminal vesicles) of the rats. Oral administration of LLLE at 200 and 400 mg/kg bodyweight for 26 days conferred protective effects against testicular damage induced by CP.

Conclusion

This study revealed that pretreatment with LLLE protected against CP-induced testicular toxicity.

Acacia hydaspica ethyl acetate extract protects against cisplatin-induced DNA damage, oxidative stress and testicular injuries in adult male rats

Background

Cisplatin (CP), an effective anticancer agent, carries the risk of impairing testicular function leading to infertility. The present study aimed at evaluating the protective effect of A. hydaspica ethyl acetate extract (AHE) against CP-induced oxidative stress and testicular injuries in rats.

Methods

Rats were divided into six groups (n = 6). Group I (control), group II (CP single dose on day 16). Group III received AHE for 21 days. Group IV (CP + AHE; post- treatment group). Group V (AHE + CP; pre-treatment group) and group VI (CP + Sily).

Results

CP treatment reduced serum testosterone (T), LH and FSH, decreased the activity level of antioxidant enzymes while increased the concentration of oxidative stress markers, i.e. thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), H₂O₂ and nitric oxide (NO) along with corresponding DNA damages. Furthermore, CP induced adverse morphological changes in testis of rats including reduced epithelial height and tubular diameter, increased luminal diameter with impaired spermatogenesis. Pre and post-treatment with AHE reduced the side effects of CP in testis tissues through improvement in the reproductive hormonal secretions, enzymatic activities, histological and DNA damage parameters. Pretreatment seems to be more effective and equivalent to silymarin group in reversing the CP deleterious effects as compared to post-treatment.

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that A. hydaspica treatment in CP-induced testicular toxicity augments the antioxidants defense mechanism, reverted the level of fertility hormones, suppressed the histomorphological alterations and DNA damages and thus provides the evidence that it may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.

Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity; Protective Supplements and Gender Differences

Cisplatin (CDDP) has been widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent for solid tumors. The most common side effect of CDDP is nephrotoxicity, and many efforts have been made in the laboratory and the clinic to employ candidate adjuvants to CDDP to minimize this adverse influence. Many synthetic and herbal antioxidants as well as trace elements have been investigated for this purpose in recent years and a variety of positive and negative results have been yielded. However, no definitive supplement has so far been proposed to prevent CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity; however, this condition is gender related and the sex hormone estrogen may protect the kidney against CDDP damage. In this review, the results of research related to the effect of different synthetic and herbal antioxidants supplements are presented and discussed with suggestions included for future work.

Ameliorative effect of selenium in cisplatin-induced testicular damage in rats

In this study, we investigated the protective effect of selenium (Se) on cisplatin (Cis) induced testicular damage using histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical approaches. Twenty-one male Wistar rats were equally divided into three groups of seven rats each: control (C), Cis, and Cis+Se. Cis and Cis+Se group rats received Cis at a dose of 12mg/kg b.w./day, intraperitoneally for 3 consecutive days. Cis+Se group rats received selenium via oral gavage 3mg/kg/day (twice-a day as 1.5mg/kg) until 11th consecutive days starting at 5 days before cisplatin injection. C group received only 0.9% NaCl intraperitoneally and orally at same time and at equal volume. After the treatment, the histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical examinations were performed. In seminiferous tubules of Cis treated rats were observed the most consistent findings characterized with vacuolization, desquamation, disorganization, and also was a considerable reduction in elongated spermatids, however the Cis+Se group exhibited improved histopathologic changes. In the immunohistochemical examinations, caspase-3 immunopositive cells displayed higher in the Cis group according to C and Cis+Se groups. Bcl-2 and NF-κB staining revealed a moderate number in the C group and significantly fewer in the Cis group compared to the Cis+Se groups. Additionally, MDA levels were also significantly increased in the Cis group in comparison to Control group, but pretreatment with selenium prevented elevation of MDA levels significantly in Cis+Se group rats. This study indicates that Cis-treatment induced testicular apoptosis and lipid peroxidation, and combined treatment with selenium prevented severity of the toxicity in rats.

Follicle-stimulating hormone enhances recovery from low-dose doxorubicin-induced spermatogenic disorders in mice

PURPOSE

We aimed to investigate the effects of FSH for promoting spermatogenesis in mice with low-dose doxorubicin-induced spermatogenesis impairment.

METHODS

Eight-wk-old male imprinting control region mice were divided into three groups. Groups D and F received 0.5 mg/kg of doxorubicin twice weekly for 5 weeks. Group C received saline instead of doxorubicin. After inducing spermatogenesis impairment, group D was treated daily with saline for 4 weeks. Group F was given 1 IU of recombinant human FSH daily for 4 weeks. Spermatogenesis recovery was evaluated based on the testis weight, sperm count, histological assessment, and mating. The percentage of sperm with unfragmented deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was analyzed by single-cell pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and the serum FSH levels were measured.

RESULTS

The elevation of serum FSH advanced slowly. The testis weight, sperm count, percentage of seminiferous tubules with spermatogenesis, percentage of sperm with unfragmented DNA and pregnancy rate were significantly increased by the administration of FSH.

CONCLUSION

Our study findings indicated that the immediate administration of exogenous FSH can promote the recovery from impaired spermatogenesis induced by low-dose doxorubicin before endogenous FSH increases to the maximum level.

Paternal fenvalerate exposure influences reproductive functions in the offspring

Fenvalerate (Fen), a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, has been shown to have adverse effects on male reproductive system. Thus, the aim of the present study was to elucidate whether these adverse effects are passed from exposed male mice to their offspring. Adult male mice received Fen (10 mg/kg) daily for 30 days and mated with untreated females to produce offspring. Fenvalerate significantly changed the methylation status of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (Ace), forkhead box O3 (Foxo3a), huntingtin-associated protein 1 (Hap1), nuclear receptor subfamily 3 (Nr3c2), promyelocytic leukemia (Pml), and Prostaglandin F2 receptor negative regulator (Ptgfrn) genes in paternal mice sperm genomic DNA. Further, Fen significantly increased sperm abnormalities; serum testosterone and estradiol-17ß level in adult male (F0) and their male offspring (F1). Further, paternal Fen treatment significantly increased the length of estrous cycle, serum estradiol-17ß concentration in estrus, and progesterone levels in diestrus in female offspring (F1). These findings suggest that adverse effects of paternal Fen exposure on reproductive functions can be seen not only in treated males (F0) but also in their offsprings.