N-acetyl cysteine co-treatment abates perfluorooctanoic acid-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats

Mitigative Effects of l-Arginine and N-Acetyl Cysteine against Cisplatin-Induced Testicular Dysfunction and Toxicity through the Regulation of Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Antiapoptotic Markers: Role of miR-155 and miR-34c Expression

Testicular dysfunction is a common adverse effect of cisplatin (CIS) administration as a chemotherapeutic drug. The current study has outlined the role of micro-RNAs (miR-155 and 34c) in CIS-induced testicular dysfunction and evaluated the protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and/or l-arginine (LA). Seven groups of Albino rats were used for this study. The control (C) group received physiological saline; the CIS group was injected CIS (7 mg/kg IP, once) on day 21 of the experiment; the NAC group was administered NAC (150 mg/kg intragastric, for 28 days); and the LA group was injected LA (50 mg/kg IP, for 28 days). NAC+CIS, LA+CIS, and NAC+LA+CIS groups received the above regime. CIS significantly reduced serum testosterone, LH, and FSH concentrations with decline of testicular enzyme activities. CIS caused significant elevation in testicular oxidative-stress biomarkers, inflammation-associated cytokines, and apoptosis markers, along with overexpression of miR-155 and low miR-34c expression. Additionally, marked testicular degenerative changes were observed in the examined histological section; a significant decrease in the expression of PCNA with significant increase in expressions of F4/80 and BAX was confirmed. The administration of NAC or LA upregulated testicular functions and improved histopathological and immunohistochemical changes as well as miRNA expression compared with the CIS-administered group. Rats receiving both NAC and LA showed a more significant ameliorative effect compared with groups receiving NAC or LA alone. In conclusion, NAC or LA showed an ameliorative effect against CIS-induced testicular toxicity and dysfunction through the regulation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic markers and via modulating miR-155 and miR-34c expression.

Perfluorooctanoic acid induces Leydig cell injury via inhibition of autophagosomes formation and activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a man-made chemical broadly distributed in various ecological environment and human bodies, which poses potential health risks. Its toxicity, especially the male reproduction toxicity has drawn increasing attention due to declining birth rates in recent years. However, how PFOA induces male reproductive toxicity remains unclear. Here, we characterize PFOA-induced cell injury and reveal the underlying mechanism in mouse Leydig cells, which are critical to spermatogenesis in the testes. We show that PFOA induces cell injury as evidenced by reduced cell viability, cell morphology changes and apoptosis induction. RNA-sequencing analysis reveals that PFOA-induced cell injury is correlated with compromised autophagy and activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, two conserved biological processes required for regulating cellular homeostasis. Mechanistic analysis shows that PFOA inhibits autophagosomes formation, and activation of autophagy rescues PFOA-induced apoptosis. Additionally, PFOA activates ER stress, and pharmacological inhibition of ER stress attenuates PFOA-induced cell injury. Taken together, these results demonstrate that PFOA induces cell injury through inhibition of autophagosomes formation and induction of ER stress in Leydig cells. Thus, our study sheds light on the cellular mechanisms of PFOA-induced Leydig cell injury, which may be suggestive to human male reproductive health risk assessment and prevention from PFOA exposure-induced reproductive toxicity.

Perfluorooctanoic acid inhibits androgen biosynthesis in rat immature Leydig cells

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a commonly used short-chain synthetic perfluoroalkyl agent. Immature Leydig cells (ILCs) are localized in the testis and responsible for androgen biosynthesis and metabolism. Although PFOA shows toxicity in the reproductive system, it is not clear if it disrupts the function of ILCs. In the present study, primary ILCs were isolated from 35-day-old rats and exposed to a range of PFOA concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, or 1 μM). It was determined that 0.1 or 1 μM PFOA reduced total androgen biosynthesis in ILCs. Specifically, 22R-hydroxycholesterol (22R), and pregnenolone (P5) mediated androgen biosynthesis were reduced by 0.1 μM PFOA. PFOA also selectively downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of steroidogenic enzymes including LHCGR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD1, and NR5A1 at 0.01, 0.1, or 1 μM. Further analysis revealed that 0.1 μM PFOA inhibited CYP11A1 and 3β-HSD1 enzyme activities. However, PFOA did not significantly affect androgen metabolism and turnover under any of the conditions tested. And PFOA gavaging to 35-day-old rats at 5 or 10 mg/kg for 7 or 14 days also reduced serum androgen levels secreted by ILCs. Moreover, PFOA gavaging also downregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of LHCGR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD1, and NR5A1 in vivo. Taken together, these findings suggest that PFOA inhibits androgen biosynthesis in ILCs by selectively targeting key enzymes in the synthesis pathway.

Protective Effect of N-Acetylcysteine Against Aluminum-Induced Kidney Tissue Damage in Rats

Aluminum (AL) is an important nephrotoxic agent with a high daily exposure rate and property of accumulation in tissues. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against AL exposure-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into 4 groups as control, N-acetylcysteine group (NC), AL, and AL + NC, with an equal number of rats in each group (n = 7). No application was made to the control group. A total of 150 mg/kg/day NAC was administered to the NC group and 30 mg/kg/day AL was administered to the AL group intraperitoneally (i.p.). The AL + NC group received 30 mg/kg/day AL and 150 mg/kg/day NAC i.p. Biochemical parameters in blood serum and histopathological changes in kidney tissue, oxidative stress parameters, spexin (SPX), and apoptotic protein levels were examined after 15 days. Histopathological changes, biochemical parameters, oxidative stress parameters, and apoptotic protein levels were significantly irregular in the AL group compared to the control group. Moreover, SPX levels increased in the AL group. However, NAC treatment regulated AL exposure-related changes in the AL + NC group. NAC treatment may have a prophylactic effect against nephrotoxicity due to AL exposure. SPX may play a role in AL-induced nephrotoxicity.

Testicular toxicity of cisplatin in rats: ameliorative effect of lycopene and N-acetylcysteine

Lycopene (LP) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) protective effects were assessed for testicular toxicity mediated by cisplatin (CP) in rats. Forty-nine rats were divided into 7 groups (n = 7); these groups included the control group (saline, PO), LP (10 mg/kg, PO), NAC (150 mg/kg, PO), CP (7.5 mg/kg, IP) on the 27th day of the study, LP + CP, NAC+CP, and LP + NAC + CP. Serum levels of testosterone were decreased following CP injection. Malondialdehyde (MDA) has been increased with considerable glutathione (GSH), and dismutase superoxide (SOD) and catalase (CAT) decline in the testis tissues after CP injection. CP caused severe alterations in testicular tissues and elevated caspase-3 expression. Besides that, LP and/or NAC administration improved CP-induced testicular toxicity and apoptosis, probably via their antioxidant properties.

N-Acetylcysteine Reverses Monocrotophos Exposure-Induced Hepatic Oxidative Damage via Mitigating Apoptosis, Inflammation and Structural Changes in Rats

Oxidative stress-mediated tissue damage is primarily involved in hepatic injuries and dysfunctioning. Natural antioxidants have been shown to exert hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties. The present study evaluated the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against monocrotophos (MCP) exposure-induced toxicity in the rat liver. Albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) control, (2) NAC-treated, (3) MCP-exposure, (4) NAC and MCP-coexposure group. The dose of MCP (0.9 mg/kg b.wt) and NAC (200 mg/kg b.wt) were administered orally for 28 days. Exposure to MCP caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and decreased glutathione content along with the depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities. Further MCP exposure increased pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and upregulated Bax and Caspase-3 expressions. MCP exposure also caused an array of structural alternations in liver tissue, as depicted by the histological and electron microscopic analysis. Thepretreatment of NAC improved glutathione content, restored antioxidant enzyme activities, prevented oxidation of lipids and proteins, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and normalized apoptotic protein expression. Treatment of NAC also prevented histological and ultrastructural alternations. Thus, the study represents the therapeutic efficacy and antioxidant potential of NAC against MCP exposure in the rat liver.

Decrease in reproductive dysfunction using aflatoxin B1 exposure: a treatment with 3-indolepropionic acid in albino Wistar rat

We assessed the individual and combined consequence of 3-indolepropionic acid on aflatoxin B1-induced reproductive toxicity in rats. The experimental cohorts were dosed for four consecutive weeks with aflatoxin B1 (50 μg/kg), 3-indolepropionic acid (50 mg/kg), and both (aflatoxin B1: 50 μg/kg + 3-indolepropionic acid: 25 or 50 mg/kg), and the untreated control. Following sacrifice, biomarkers of testicular, epididymal and hypothalamic oxidative status, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, nitric oxide levels and myeloperoxidase activity were determined. Besides, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were also assessed. Aflatoxin B1-induced testicular, epididymal and hypothalamic oxidative stress was significantly alleviated with 3-indolepropionic acid co-treatment. Also, increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress and reduced levels of antioxidants were abated significantly in rats co-treated with 3-indolepropionic acid. Aflatoxin B1-mediated increase in tumour necrosis factor-alpha, Bax, nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase activity in the examined organs was decreased significantly in aflatoxin B1 and 3-indolepropionic acid co-treated rats. Also, 3-indolepropionic acid dose dependently reduced Bcl-2 levels in the treated rats. The degree of aflatoxin B1-induced histopathological injuries was minimised in rats co-treated with 3-indolepropionic acid. Our results demonstrated that 3-indolepropionic acid protected experimental rats from aflatoxin B1-induced oxido-inflammatory stress and apoptotic response in the examined organs.

N-acetyl cysteine abates hepatorenal toxicities induced by perfluorooctanoic acid exposure in male rats

Ingestion of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) elicits toxicities in the hepatorenal system. We investigated the effect of PFOA and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the hepatorenal function of rats treated thus: control, PFOA (5 mg/kg), NAC (50 mg/kg), PFOA + NAC (5 and 25 mg/kg), and PFOA + NAC (5 and 50 mg/kg). We observed that NAC significantly (p < 0.05) reduced PFOA-induced increase in hepatic and renal function biomarkers of toxicities relative to PFOA alone and alleviated (p < 0.05) decreases in antioxidant status. Increases in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in PFOA-treated rats were reverted to normal by NAC and abated increased pro-inflammatory mediators, and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokine both in the hepatorenal system PFOA treated rats. Histology of the kidney and liver indicated that NAC, abated the severity of PFOA-induced damage significantly. Our findings affirm further that oxido-inflammatory mediators involved in PFOA-mediated toxicity can be effectively blocked by NAC through its antioxidant activity.