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Besong EE, Akhigbe TM, Obimma JN, Obembe OO, Akhigbe RE. Acetate Abates Arsenic-Induced Male Reproductive Toxicity by Suppressing HDAC and Uric Acid-Driven Oxido-inflammatory NFkB/iNOS/NO Response in Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024; 202:2672-2687. [PMID: 37726447 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-03860-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is associated with male reproductive toxicity through histone deacetylation and oxido-inflammatory injury. Notwithstanding, short-chain fatty acids such as acetate exert anti-oxido-inflammatory activities and inhibit histone deacetylation. This study investigated the impact of acetate on arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicity. Forty eight adult male Wistar rats were allotted into any of these four groups (n = 12 rats per group): vehicle-treated, sodium acetate-treated, arsenic-exposed, and arsenic-exposed + sodium acetate-treated. The results revealed that arsenic exposure prolonged the latencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculation and reduced the frequencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculation, as well as mating and fertility indices, litter size and weight, anogenital distance, anogenital index, and survival rate in male F1 offspring at weaning. Also, arsenic reduced the circulating levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone and testicular 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities. In addition, arsenic reduced the daily and total spermatid production, sperm count, motility, and viability but increased the percentage of sperm cells with abnormal morphology. Furthermore, arsenic increased testicular xanthine oxidase activity, uric acid, and malondialdehyde levels, and reduced glutathione content, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, total antioxidant capacity, and Nrf2 level. More so, arsenic exposure increased testicular iNOS activity and nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and NFkB levels as well as Bax, caspase 9, and caspase 3 activities, and reduced Bcl-2. These findings were associated with arsenic-induced increase in testicular arsenic concentration, histone deacetylase activity, and reduced testicular weight. Histopathological examination revealed that arsenic also disrupted testicular histoarchitecture, which was accompanied by altered testicular planimetry and reduced spermatogenic cells. Notwithstanding, sodium acetate alleviated arsenic-induced sexual dysfunction as well as biochemical and histological alterations. These were accompanied acetate-driven downregulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. Succinctly, acetate attenuated arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicity by suppressing HDAC and uric acid-driven oxido-inflammatory NFkB/iNOS/NO response.
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Affiliation(s)
- E E Besong
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - T M Akhigbe
- Breeding and Plant Genetics Unit, Department of Agronomy, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - J N Obimma
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - O O Obembe
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - R E Akhigbe
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
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Hamed MA, Ekundina VO, Akhigbe RE. Psychoactive drugs and male fertility: impacts and mechanisms. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2023; 21:69. [PMID: 37507788 PMCID: PMC10375764 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-023-01098-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Although psychoactive drugs have their therapeutic values, they have been implicated in the pathogenesis of male infertility. This study highlights psychoactive drugs reported to impair male fertility, their impacts, and associated mechanisms. Published data from scholarly peer-reviewed journals were used for the present study. Papers were assessed through AJOL, DOAJ, Google Scholar, PubMed/PubMed Central, and Scopus using Medical Subjects Heading (MeSH) indexes and relevant keywords. Psychoactive drugs negatively affect male reproductive functions, including sexual urge, androgen synthesis, spermatogenesis, and sperm quality. These drugs directly induce testicular toxicity by promoting ROS-dependent testicular and sperm oxidative damage, inflammation, and apoptosis, and they also suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. This results in the suppression of circulating androgen, impaired spermatogenesis, and reduced sperm quality. In conclusion, psychoactive drug abuse not only harms male sexual and erectile function as well as testicular functions, viz., testosterone concentration, spermatogenesis, and sperm quality, but it also alters testicular histoarchitecture through a cascade of events via multiple pathways. Therefore, offering adequate and effective measures against psychoactive drug-induced male infertility remains pertinent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses Agbomhere Hamed
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
- The Brainwill Laboratory, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
| | | | - Roland Eghoghosoa Akhigbe
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
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Oyedokun PA, Akhigbe RE, Ajayi LO, Ajayi AF. Impact of hypoxia on male reproductive functions. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 478:875-885. [PMID: 36107286 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04559-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Male reproductive functions, which include testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and sexual/erectile functions are key in male fertility, but may be adversely altered by several factors, including hypoxia. This review demonstrates the impact of hypoxia on male reproductive functions. Acute exposure to hypoxia promotes testosterone production via stimulation of autophagy and upregulation of steroidogenic enzymes and voltage-gated L-type calcium channel, nonetheless, chronic exposure to hypoxia impairs steroidogenesis via suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Also, hypoxia distorts spermatogenesis and reduces sperm count, motility, and normal forms via upregulation of VEGF and oxidative stress-sensitive signaling. Furthermore, hypoxia induces sexual and erectile dysfunction via a testosterone-dependent downregulation of NO/cGMP signaling and upregulation of PGE1/TGFβ1-driven penile endothelial dysfunction. Notably, hypoxia programs male sexual function and spermatogenesis/sperm quality via feminization and demasculinization of males and oxidative stress-mediated alteration in sperm DNA methylation. Since oxidative stress plays a central role in hypoxia-induced male reproductive dysfunction, studies exploring the effects of antioxidants and upregulation of transcription of antioxidants on hypoxia-induced male reproductive dysfunction are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Oyedokun
- Anchor Reproductive Physiology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - R E Akhigbe
- Anchor Reproductive Physiology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria.
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria.
| | - L O Ajayi
- Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - A F Ajayi
- Anchor Reproductive Physiology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
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Akhigbe RE, Oladipo AA, Oyedokun PA, Hamed MA, Okeleji LO, Ajayi AF. Upregulation of Uric Acid Production and Caspase 3 Signalling Mediates Rohypnol-Induced Cardiorenal Damage. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2022; 22:419-435. [PMID: 35103933 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-022-09723-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The global prevalence of illicit drug use is on the increase with attendant complications like cardiorenal collapse. One such substance of abuse is rohypnol. Despite its ban in most countries, it remains a popular substance of abuse. Whether or not rohypnol induces cardiorenal injury and the associated mechanism is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of rohypnol on cardiorenal integrity and functions, and glucolipid metabolism. Forty-eight male Wistar rats randomized into six groups (n = 8/group) received (per os) vehicle, low-dose (2 mg/kg) and high-dose (4 mg/kg) rohypnol once daily for twenty eight days, with or without a cessation period. Data revealed that rohypnol exposure irreversibly caused insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, and dyslipidaemia. This was accompanied by reduced cardiorenal mass and impaired cardiorenal cytoarchitecture and function. Furthermore, rohypnol treatment promoted oxidative stress, inflammation, genotoxicity, and decreased cardiorenal activities of Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, and Mg2+-ATPase. These alterations were associated with enhanced uric acid generation and caspase 3 activity in the cardiorenal complex. Thus, this study reveals that rohypnol exposure triggers cardiorenal toxicity with incident insulin resistance, glucolipid and cardiorenal proton pump dysregulation, altered redox state, and inflammation via enhancement of uric acid generation and caspase 3-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Akhigbe
- Reproductive Physiology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.,Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.,Department of Chemical Sciences, Kings University, Odeomu, Osun, Nigeria
| | - A A Oladipo
- Reproductive Physiology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - P A Oyedokun
- Reproductive Physiology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - M A Hamed
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.,Buntai Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories, Osogbo, Nigeria
| | - L O Okeleji
- Cardio-Thoracic Unit, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - A F Ajayi
- Reproductive Physiology and Bioinformatics Research Unit, Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. .,Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria.
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