The Effect of Diazinon on Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Testicular Tissue of Rats and The Protective Effect of Vitamin E

Monosodium Glutamate Effect on The Expression of ɑ7nACHR and ɑ4nACHR Subunits in The Testicular Tissue

BACKGROUND

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a popular food flavor enhancer, and a glutamate subset that induces different toxicities such as hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and nephrotoxicity. This study was conducted to assess the effects of MSG on the α7 and α4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nACHR) protein subunits expression of adult rat testis and the safety role of vitamin C.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this experimental research, 24 rats were haphazardly grouped into four equal groups (n=6) and orally gavaged for 30 days as follows: control group (distilled water gavage), MSG group (3 g/kg/b.w/ day), vitamin C group (150 mg/kg/b.w/day), and MSG+vitamin C group (3 g/kg/b.w/day+150 mg/kg/b.w/day, respectively) that rats of all groups on the 30th day were anesthetized, and the left testes were used for of α4 and α7 nACHR protein subunit evaluation by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Statistical computations were performed using Graph Pad Prism software.

RESULTS

The present study revealed a significant reduction in the expression and optical density (OD) of α7 nACHR and α4 nACHR in the seminiferous tubules and intertubular connective tissue in the MSG group compared to the control group. In the MSG+vitamin C group, the expression and OD of α7 nACHR and α4 nACHR increased in the seminiferous tubules and intertubular connective tissue but this improvement was not significant compared to the MSG group.

CONCLUSION

MSG decreased the expression level of nACHR protein subunits, α7 and α4, in the seminiferous tubules and interstitial testicular tissue. Vitamin C in the MSG+vitamin C group could not significantly improve the expression of α7 and α4 nACHR subunits in testicular tissue. Probably, MSG toxicity can be compensated with higher doses of vitamin C.

Protective Effect of Vitamin E on Cadmium-Induced Renal Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis in Rats

Cadmium (Cd), a widely distributed heavy metal, is extremely toxic to the kidney. Vitamin E (VE) is an important antioxidant in the body. It is known that VE exerts a protective effect on renal oxidative damage caused by Cd, but the effect and mechanism of VE on apoptosis are not fully understood. Thus, we conducted this study to explore the protective effect of VE on Cd-induced renal apoptosis and to elucidate its potential mechanism. Thirty-two 9-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, namely control, VE (100 mg/kg VE), Cd (5 mg/kg CdCl₂), and VE + Cd (100 mg/kg VE + 5 mg/kg CdCl₂), and received intragastric administration of Cd and/or VE for 4 weeks. The results showed that Cd exposure significantly reduced the weight of the body and kidney, elevated the accumulation of Cd in the kidney as well as the levels of BUN and Scr in serum, caused renal histological alterations, decreased the GSH and T-AOC contents and antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, GSH-PX) activities, and increased renal MDA content. And the increased number of TUNEL-positive cells by Cd was accompanied by upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of apoptotic regulatory molecules (Bax, Caspase-3, GRP94, GRP78, Caspase-8) and downregulated Bcl-2 expressions. However, the combined treatment of Cd and VE could restore the above parameters to be close to those in the control rats. In conclusion, VE supplement could alleviate Cd-induced rat renal damage and oxidative stress through enhancing the antioxidant defense system and inhibiting apoptosis of renal cells.

Effect of Filgrastim on adult male rats' fertility and reproductive performance

Filgrastim is a recombinant protein used in treatment neutropenia caused by myelosuppressive medications for patients with non-myeloid cancer. However, its effect in male fertility is not clear. So, the current work aims to clarify the effect of Filgrastim on the reproductive state in Wistar rats. Eighteen (18) male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (6/each). Group (I) where the rats were injected with 0.5 ml/kg/day of distilled water and served as Control Group. The Group (II) animals received intraperitoneal injection of therapeutic dose of 30.83 mcg/kg/day of Filgrastim for one week. The Group (III) rats received the same dose by the same route of Filgrastim for two weeks. Sera of blood samples were processed for serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (TS). Semen analysis and resazurine reduction test (RRT) were performed. Assaying for malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) was done. The testes were retrieved for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies for caspase-3 detection. Our results revealed that filgrastim affects sperm morphology, significantly decreased the RRT and the reproductive hormones level, elevated the oxidative stress status and induced several histopathological changes in testes with an increased in immunoexpression of caspase-3 in testes tissues. The results of this work demonstrated that Filgrastim may had a deleterious effect on male fertility.