Effect of aflatoxin B1 on the seminiferous tubules and the possible protective role of curcumin in adult albino rats (Light and electron microscopic study):

Lycopene ameliorates aflatoxin B1-induced testicular lesion by attenuating oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage with Nrf2 activation in mice

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is an extremely hazardous and unavoidable pollutant for cereals and feedstuff. AFB₁ can cause testicular lesion, and how to alleviate its testicular toxicity has received much attention in recent years. Lycopene (LYC), a foodborne nutrient derived from red fruits and vegetables, has protective effects against sperm abnormality and testicular lesions. To confirm the beneficial effects and mechanisms of LYC on AFB₁-induced testicular lesion, 48 male mice were exposed to 0.75 mg/kg AFB₁ or/and 5 mg/kg LYC for consecutive 30 days. Results demonstrated the LYC significantly restored the lesions of testicular microstructure and ultrastructure, and sperm abnormalities in AFB₁-exposed mice. Furthermore, LYC effectively attenuated AFB₁-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, including ameliorative mitochondrial structural, and elevated mitochondrial biogenesis for maintaining mitochondrial function. Meanwhile, LYC resisted AFB₁-induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. In addition, LYC promoted nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, and upregulated the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings demonstrate LYC ameliorates AFB₁-induced testicular lesion by attenuating oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, which is related to the activation of Nrf2.

Cyclopiazonic acid induced p53-dependent apoptosis in the testis of mice: Another male related risk factor of infertility

Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is an indole tetrameric acid mycotoxin. This study carried out to investigate the potential effects of CPA on male reproductive system. In the current study, 40 adult male mice were divided into five groups (n = 8). The control group did not expose to CPA, while animals in vehicle-received group; received the CPA-solvent (0.05% dimethyl sulfoxide) and the animals of third, fourth, and fifth groups received CPA 0.03, 0.06, and 0.12 mg/kg, body weight, respectively for 28 days. Morphometric and morphological deviations, spermatogenesis indices, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total thiol molecules (TTM) concentration, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), protein carbonylation rate (CO), and nitric oxide (NO) concentration were examined. The expression changes of apoptotic genes (P53, Bcl-2, and Caspase III) at mRNA level were also evaluated by qPCR technique. Reduction in the Leydig and Sertoli cells population, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and spermatogenesis parameters was significant only in the group that received the highest dose of CPA. An increase in the level of MDA, NO, and CO in testicular tissue and reduction of TAC and TTM were observed in the CPA-exposed groups. Significant up-regulation (p < .05) in the expression of P53 and Caspase III genes and down-regulation of Bcl-2 gene were found in the CPA-received groups. These results are indicating the detrimental effects of CPA on the testicles, which may attribute to the CPA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Moreover, results also help to understand a serious concern about the presence of CPA in foods as a potential risk factor in male-related infertility.