Lipoic acid ameliorates adriamycin-induced testicular mitochondriopathy

Modulatory effect of liraglutide on doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity and behavioral abnormalities in rats: role of testicular-brain axis

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a powerful chemotherapeutic agent used in many types of malignancies. However, its use results in testicular damage. DOX-induced testicular damage results in low level of serum testosterone which may affect cognitive function. The current study investigated the protective effect of liraglutide (50, 100 μg/kg/day) in testicular toxicity and the consequent cognitive impairment induced by DOX. DOX treatment reduced sperm count (62%) and sperm motility (53%) and increased sperm abnormalities (786%), as compared to control group. DOX also reduced serum testosterone level (85%) and the gene expression of testicular 3β-HSD (68%) and 17β-HSD (82%). Moreover, it increased testicular oxidative stress (MDA and GSH) by 103% and 59%, respectively, apoptotic (caspase-3 and P53) by 996% and 480%, respectively. In addition, DOX resulted in increasing autophagic markers including PAKT, mTOR, and LC3 by 48%, 56%, and 640%, respectively. Additionally, rats' behavior in Y-maze (60%) and passive avoidance task (85%) was disrupted. The histopathological results of testis and brain supported the biochemical findings. Treatment with liraglutide (100 μg/kg/day) significantly abrogated DOX-induced testicular damage by restoring testicular architecture, increasing sperm count (136%) and sperm motility (106%), and decreasing sperm abnormalities (84%) as compared to DOX group. Furthermore, liraglutide increased serum testosterone (500%) and steroidogenesis enzymes 3β-HSD (105%) and 17β-HSD (181%) along with suppressing oxidative stress (MDA and GSH) by 23% and 85%, respectively; apoptotic (caspase-3 and P53) by 59% and55%, respectively; and autophagic markers including PAKT, mTOR, and LC3 by 48%, 97%, and 60%, respectively. Moreover, it enhanced the memory functions in passive avoidance and Y-maze tests (132%). In conclusion, liraglutide is a putative agent for protection against DOX-induced testicular toxicity and cognitive impairment through its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and antiautophagic effects.

α-Bisabolol Attenuates NF-κB/MAPK Signaling Activation and ER-Stress-Mediated Apoptosis by Invoking Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Defense Systems against Doxorubicin-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Rats

The present study investigated the effects of α-bisabolol on DOX-induced testicular damage in rats. Testicular damage was induced in rats by injecting DOX (12.5 mg/kg, i.p., single dose) into rats. α-Bisabolol (25 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to the rats along with DOX pre- and co-treatment daily for a period of 5 days. DOX-injected rats showed a decrease in absolute testicular weight and relative testicular weight ratio along with concomitant changes in the levels/expression levels of oxidative stress markers and Nrf2 expression levels in the testis. DOX injection also triggered the activation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling and increased levels/expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2) in the testis. DOX triggered apoptosis, manifested by an increment in the expression levels of pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, Bcl2, cleaved caspase-3 and -9, and cytochrome-C) and a decline in the expression levels of anti-apoptotic markers (Bcl-xL and Bcl2) in the testis. Additionally, light microscopy revealed the changes in testicular architecture. α-Bisabolol rescued alterations in the testicular weight; restored all biochemical markers; modulated the expression levels of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant responses, NF-κB/MAPK signaling, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and apoptosis markers in DOX-injected testicular toxicity in rats. Based on our findings, it can be concluded that α-bisabolol has the potential to attenuate DOX-induced testicular injury by modifying NF-κB/MAPK signaling and the ER-stress-mediated mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis by invoking Nrf2-dependent antioxidant defense systems in rats. Based on the findings of the present study, α-bisabolol could be suggested for use as an agent or adjuvant with chemotherapeutic drugs to attenuate their deleterious effects of DOX on many organs including the testis. However, further regulatory toxicology and preclinical studies are necessary before making recommendations in clinical tests.

Yüzme Egzersizi Yaptırılan Farelere Alfa-Lipoik Asit Uygulamasının Lipid Peroksidasyon, Kreatin Kinaz ve Laktat Düzeyleri Üzerine Etkisinin İncelenmesi*

Özet Amaç: Bu çalışmada, yüzme egzersizi yaptırılan farelere alfa-lipoik asit (ALA) uygulamasının lipit peroksidasyon, kreatin kinaz ve laktat düzeyleri üzerine etkisi incelendi. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmada 20-25 gr ağırlığında, 30 adet Swiss albino cinsi fare kullanıldı. Fareler kontrol, ALA- 50 ve ALA-100 şeklinde her grupta 10 adet olacak şekilde 3 gruba ayrıldı. Kontrol grubuna 10 gün boyunca intraperitoneal (i.p.) izotonik serum uygulandı. ALA gruplarına ise 10 gün boyunca i.p. yol ile sırasıyla 50 ve 100 mg/kg konsantrasyonlarda ALA uygulandı. Onuncu günün sonunda fareler yüzme havuzlarına alınarak test edildi. Yüzme testi sonrası farelerin kas ve kan örnekleri alınarak biyokimyasal olarak incelendi. Bulgular: Elde edilen veriler kontrol grubu ile karşılaştırıldığında ALA uygulanan grupların yüzme süresi, GSH, GSH-Px ve SOD seviyelerinde artış, CK, LDH ve MDA değerlerinde ise azalma olduğu görüldü. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak akut tüketici yüzme egzersizi yaptırılan farelerin kas dokusundaki hasarın varlığı biyokimyasal olarak tespit edilmiştir. ALA uygulamalarının tüketici yüzme egzersizinin oluşturduğu oksidatif hasarın engellenmesinde ve kas yorgunluğunun geciktirilmesinde etkili olabileceği kanısına varıldı.

Mechanisms of doxorubicin-mediated reproductive toxicity - A review

The anticancer drug doxorubicin has been associated with several adverse side-effects including reproductive toxicity in both genders. The current review has complied the mechanisms of doxorubicin induced reproductive toxicity. The articles cited in the review were searched using Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct. Doxorubicin treatment has been found to cause a decrease in testicular mass along with histopathological deformities, oligospermia and abnormalities in sperm morphology. Apart from severely affecting the normal physiological role of both Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, doxorubicin also causes chromosome abnormalities and affects DNA methylase enzyme. Testicular lipid metabolism has been found to be negatively affected by doxorubicin treatment resulting in altered profile of sphingolipids glycerophospholipids and neutral lipids. Dysregulation of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) are strongly linked to testicular exposure to doxorubicin. Further, oxidative stress along with endoplasmic reticulum stress are also found to aggravate the male reproductive functioning in doxorubicin treated conditions. Several antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are downregulated by doxorubicin. It also disturbs the hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG)-axis including testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone etc. In females, the drug disturbs folliculogenesis and oogenesis leading to failure of ovulation and uterine cycle. In rodent model the drug shortens pro-estrous and estrous phases. It was also found that doxorubicin causes mitochondrial dysfunction in oocytes with impaired calcium signaling along with ER stress. The goal of the present review is to comprehends various pathways due to which doxorubicin treatment promotes toxicity in male and female reproductive system.

Pravastatin attenuates testicular damage induced by doxorubicin - a stereological and histopatological study

Background The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pravastatin (PS) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced testicular toxicity. Methods A total of 24 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups. Group I received normal saline, Group II received PS (20 mg/kg b.w.) by gavage, Group III was treated with DOX alone (15 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) and Group IV received the combination of DOX and PS. Results After 8 weeks, the results displayed that DOX caused a decrease in testicular volume and index, epididymal sperm count, seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelium. DOX also reduced the number of spermatogonia, spermatoctyes and Sertoli cells as well as increased the lumen diameter of seminiferous tubules (p<0.05) and the incidence of histopathological changes of the testis. Moreover, elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and declined glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were observed (p<0.05). On the contrary, PS treatment significantly ameliorated nearly all of these abnormalities (p<0.05). Conclusions PS protects against DOX-induced testicular toxicity in rats, which is likely via the inhibition of oxidative stress and the increase of antioxidant enzyme activity.

In vitro study of doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in spermatogonia and immature Sertoli cells

Pediatric chemotherapy treatments can impair long-term male fertility. Unfortunately, no fertility preservation solution is available for pre-pubertal boys. Studies suggest that doxorubicin, used against pediatric cancers, induces oxidative stress in the testis. However, the targeted testicular cell types remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine whether doxorubicin can induce oxidative stress in rat spermatogonia (GC-6Spg) and immature Sertoli (Ser-W3) cell lines, and to assess their protection by antioxidants. Using the MTT assay, we have shown that doxorubicin induces a time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in these two cell lines, Ser-W3 being more sensitive than GC-6Spg. After 3 h of treatment, reactive oxygen species and nuclear 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine increase in Ser-W3, but not in GC-6Spg. Moreover, after 6 h of treatment, intracellular reduced glutathione levels decrease significantly in Ser-W3 cells. These results show that doxorubicin induces oxidative stress in the Ser-W3 cell line. However, a depletion in glutathione does not affect their survival, and supplementation only offers a weak protection after exposure to doxorubicin, suggesting that the glutathione system is not essential for Ser-W3 cell line's defense against doxorubicin. On the other hand, among four antioxidants selected from the literature, none reduces the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in Ser-W3 cells. Together, our data suggest that oxidative stress may not be a major pathway for doxorubicin's cytotoxicity in GC-6Spg and Ser-W3 lines. This study provides new insights in the mechanisms by which chemotherapies affect the pre-pubertal testis, with the long-term goal to help improve the quality of life of pediatric cancer survivors.

Preventive effects of Resveratrol against azoxymethane-induced testis injury in rats

To evaluate the protective effects of Resveratrol (RES) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced testicular damage using histopathology and biochemical analyses, 28 male rats were randomly divided into four groups. Groups were control, RES, AOM and ARES. At the end of the 7 weeks, following routine tissue processing procedure, testis sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome. The blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis of testosterone, total oxidative stress, total antioxidant status and oxidative stress index. Degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules such as atrophy, loss in the number of germ cells and arrested spermatogenic cell, and increase in the connective tissue of the tunica albuginea in the groups with AOM treatment were found. RES treatment (ARES) reduced the number of affected seminiferous tubules significantly (p < .05) compared to AOM alone. The testosterone levels in AOM group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < .05). The total oxidative stress levels were significantly higher in AOM group compared to control group (p < .05). The total antioxidant status levels in ARES group were significantly higher than in the AOM group (p < .05). This study results suggest that an antioxidant like Resveratrol may be useful for decreasing the harmful effects of azoxymethane.

Recovery of adriamycin induced mitochondrial dysfunction in liver by selenium

Adriamycin (ADR) is a chemotherapeutic drug. Its toxicities may associate with mitochondriopathy. Selenium (Se) is a trace element for essential intracellular antioxidant enzymes. However, there is lack of data related to the effect of selenium on the liver tissue of ADR-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. The study was to investigate whether Se could restore mitochondrial dysfunction of liver-exposed ADR. Rats were divided into four groups as a control, ADR, Se, co-treated ADR with Se groups. The biochemical measurements of the liver were made in mitochondrial and cytosol. ATP level and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) were measured. Total oxidant (TOS), total antioxidant (TAS) status were determined and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated by using TOS and TAS. ADR increased TOS in mitochondria and also oxidative stress in mitochondria. ADR sligtly decreased MMP, and ATP level. Partial recovery of MMP by Se was able to elevate the ATP production in cotreatment of ADR with Se. TOS in mitochondria and cytosol was diminished, as well as OSI. We concluded that selenium could potentially be used against oxidative stress induced by ADR in liver, resulting from the restoration of MMP and ATP production and prevention of mitochondrial damage in vivo.

Amelioration of adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity by Salsola kali aqueous extract is mediated by lowering oxidative stress

OBJECTIVES

To assess the cardioprotective effect of the Salsola kali aqueous extract against adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiotoxicity in male Swiss albino mice.

METHODS

The aqueous extract of S. kali was phytochemically screened by traditional methods for different classes and further evaluated for antioxidant activity in vitro. In vivo, cardioprotective evaluation of the extract was designed to have four groups of mice: (1) control group (distilled water, orally; normal saline, intraperitoneally (i.p.)); (2) ADR group (15 mg/kg, i.p.); (3) aqueous S. kali extract (200 mg/kg, orally); and (4) ADR + S. kali group. ADR (5 mg/kg) was injected three times over 2 weeks while S. kali was orally administered daily for 3 weeks (1 week before and 2 weeks during ADR treatment). Cardioprotective properties were assessed using biochemical and histopathological approaches.

RESULTS

ADR caused a significant increase in serum enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase). Myocardial levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and reduced glutathione, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase increased while the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase declined. Histopathological examination of heart sections revealed that ADR caused myofibrils loss, necrosis and cytoplasmic vacuolization.

DISCUSSION

Pretreatment with S. kali aqueous extract normalized serum and antioxidant enzymes minimized lipid peroxidation and cardiac damage. These results have suggested that the extract has antioxidant activity, indicating that the mechanism of cardioprotection during ADR treatment is mediated by lowering oxidative stress.

Changes in sperm characteristics and induction of oxidative stress in the testis and epididymis of experimental rats by a herbicide, atrazine

To study the effects of atrazine on reproductive functions and testicular and epididymal antioxidant defense, rats were exposed to 0, 120, or 200 mg/kg body weight atrazine orally for 7 and 16 days. Animals exposed to the high-dose atrazine had their body weights, feed intake, and reproductive organs weights significantly reduced, whereas testicular weights remain unaffected independent of the dose used. In comparison to control, glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were elevated in the high-dose group, whereas the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT); ascorbate (AA), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and hydrogen peroxide production were unchanged in the testis during the 7-day-exposure protocol. When atrazine treatment was increased to 16 days, GSH levels remained unchanged, but lipid peroxidation levels were significantly increased in both the testes and epididymides. This corresponded to the significant diminution in the activities of GST and SOD. CAT activities were unaffected in the testes and then dropped in the epididymides. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) activities increased during both studies, whereas AA levels remained unaffected (p < 0.05). Atrazine exposure has a dose-dependent adverse effect on the testicular and epididymal sperm numbers, motility, viability, morphology, and daily sperm production. Although the testes of the atrazine-treated animals appear normal, few tubules had mild degeneration with the presence of defoliated cells. Likewise, no perceptible morphological changes were observed in the epididymis. The results suggest that atrazine impairs reproductive function and elicits a depletion of the antioxidant defense system in the testis and epididymis, indicating the induction of oxidative stress.

Doxorubicin Affects Testicular Lipids with Long-Chain (C18-C22) and Very Long-Chain (C24-C32) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Doxorubicin disrupts spermatogenesis by causing apoptosis of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of this agent on adult rat testicular lipids and their fatty acids. A single dose (7.5 mg/kg) and a multidose regime (3 mg/kg once a week for 4 weeks) were evaluated. Both treatments resulted in the gradual loss of spermatogenic cells and determined a marked reduction in testicular size and weight 9 weeks after their start. Germ cell loss was accompanied by a decrease in phospholipids, including glycerophospholipids and sphingomyelin. Concomitantly, glycerophospholipids lost selectively their major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), 22:5n-6, and sphingomyelin lost its major very long-chain PUFA (VLCPUFA), 28:4n-6 and 30:5n-6. The molecular species from which the lost polyenes originated were thus a trait of germ cells. A transient peak of 16:0-ceramide was observed 48 h after the single dose. In both doxorubicin regimes, sphingomyelin and ceramide with reduced amounts of VLCPUFA after about 4 weeks and with no VLCPUFA after 9 weeks resulted. By contrast, triglycerides and especially cholesterol esters (CE) tended to accumulate in the testes undergoing germ cell death, probably in the surviving Sertoli cells, their fatty acid patterns suggesting that initially, these lipids retained part of the PUFA coming from, or no longer used for, the synthesis of germ cell glycerophospholipids. As the latter decreased, CE accumulated massively 9 weeks after starting doxorubicin treatment, 20:4n-6 becoming their major PUFA. Part of these CEs may derive from surviving steroidogenic cells. [Cancer Res 2007;67(14):6973–80]

Lycopene prevents adriamycin-induced testicular toxicity in rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate a possible protective role of lycopene on adriamycin (ADR)-induced spermiotoxicity using quantitative, biochemical and histopathological approaches.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

SETTING

Firat University Medical School, Experimental Research Centre, Elazig, Turkey.

ANIMALS

Twenty four Sprague Dawley rats (8-weeks old)

INTERVENTION(S)

Adriamycin (10 mg kg(-1)) was intraperitoneally injected and lycopene (4 mg kg(-1)) was administered by gavage in corn oil.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Reproductive organ weights were evaluated along with epididymal sperm concentration, motility and morphology. Testicular histological findings, oxidative status and plasma testosterone levels were also determined.

RESULT(S)

Lycopene ameliorated ADR-induced reductions in both testes and epididymis weights. ADR decreased sperm motility, increased total abnormal sperm rates, but epididymal sperm concentration was not changed compared to control. A marked normalization was achieved in sperm motility and morphology in pretreatment with lycopene. Although testosterone level was decreased in ADR group compared to control, no changes were observed in pretreatment group. An increase in malondialdehyde and a decrease reduced glutathione concentrations were detected in alone ADR group compared to control. Pretreatment with lycopene restored significantly malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione concentrations. ADR caused severe degenerative changes in germinative cells, atrophy in the diameter size of seminiferous tubules and germinative cell thickness. However, ADR-induced histopathological alterations were effectively reverted by pretreatment with lycopene.

CONCLUSION(S)

This study clearly indicates that ADR treatment markedly impaired testicular function and that pretreatment with lycopene might prevent this toxicity.

Lipoic acid modulates adriamycin-induced testicular toxicity

Adriamycin (ADR), an anthracycline antibiotic, which is widely used as an antineoplastic drug in the treatment of various solid tumors, has been shown to induce reproductive abnormalities in males. In the present study, the effect of lipoic acid (LA) a universal antioxidant was investigated on ADR-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Adult male albino rats of Wistar strain were administered ADR (1mg/kg body weight, i.v.), once a week for 10 weeks. ADR-injected rats showed increased levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine with high protein carbonyl contents in testicular tissue. These changes were associated with significant increase in DNA damage in the sperm as evidenced by increased single strand breaks in a fluorimetric analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU). The activities of steroidogenic enzymes such as 3beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and 17beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase, serum testosterone levels were decreased significantly in ADR-treated rats. Flow cytometric evaluation of testicular tissue in ADR-administered rats revealed impaired spermatogenesis and testicular function. Treatment with lipoic acid (35 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) one day prior to ADR administration, maintained near normal steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, thereby proving it to be an effective cytoprotectant.

Protective effect of lipoic acid on adriamycin-induced testicular toxicity

BACKGROUND

Adriamycin (ADR), an anthracycline antibiotic, which is widely used as an antineoplastic drug in the treatment of various solid tumors, has been shown to induce reproductive abnormalities in males. In the present study, the effect of lipoic acid (LA), a universal antioxidant, was investigated on ADR-induced testicular toxicity in rats.

METHODS

Adult male albino rats of Wistar strain were administered ADR (1 mg/kg body weight, i.v.), once a week for 10 weeks. Semen quality was evaluated in terms of sperm count, percentage motility and abnormality. The testicular damage was also assessed by the measurement of marker enzymes activities and histology.

RESULTS

ADR treated rats showed a significant decrease in sperm count and motility while an increase in dead and abnormal sperms. The activities of testicular marker enzymes such as gamma-glutamyl transferase, beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase were increased whereas the activity of lactate dehydrogenase-X was decreased significantly in the animals treated with ADR. ADR treated rats also showed abnormal histologic findings. Treatment with lipoic acid (35 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) 1 day prior to ADR administration, improved the semen quality and maintained near normal activities of the enzymes.

CONCLUSION

By the reversal of biochemical and morphological changes towards normalcy, the cytoprotective role of LA is illuminated in ADR-induced testicular toxicity.