Nitrite-induced testicular toxicity in rats: therapeutic potential of walnut oil

Ameliorative effect of Odontonema cuspidatum extract against testicular damage induced by sodium nitrite in rats

Background

Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is a chemical substance used to enhance taste, add color, and keep food products fit for consumption for a longer time. NaNO2 gives rise to a negative adverse effect on male reproductive function. Odontonema cuspidatum (OC) is a natural plant that possesses antioxidant capacity.

Aim

Our research evaluates the potential beneficial effect of OC extract on the harmful effects caused by NaNO2 on the testicular tissue and sperm characteristics of male rats.

Methods

Four groups with a total of forty rats: the control, the NaNO2-received group, the OC-administered group, and the fourth group received both NaNO2 and OC. All groups were administered daily for two months. Sperm characteristics, testicular antioxidant status, qRT-PCR, and histopathological changes were evaluated.

Results

Coadministration of NaNO2 and OC, in comparison with NaNO2 alone, contributed to a notable enhancement in acrosomal integrity, decreasing sperm abnormalities and restoring serum testosterone levels. Moreover, such coadministration reduced the oxidative stress marker, malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) in testicular tissue, lowering TNF-α gene expression, and increasing the expression of P450scc and StAR genes. In addition, the NaNO2 and OC combination decreased the testicular histopathological changes and the Caspase-3 and Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoexpression in seminiferous tubules compared with the NaNO2 group.

Conclusion

The extract of OC exhibited the ability to decrease oxidative stress and ameliorate the detrimental effects caused by NaNO2.

Chia seeds oil ameliorate chronic immobilization stress-induced neurodisturbance in rat brains via activation of the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory/antiapoptotic signaling pathways

Chronic immobilization stress plays a key role in several neuropsychiatric disorders. This investigation assessed the possible ameliorative effect of chia seed oil (CSO) against the neurodisturbance-induced in rats by chronic immobilization. Rats were randomly allocated into control, CSO (1 ml/kg b.wt./orally), restrained (6 h/day), CSO pre-restraint, and CSO post-restraint for 60 days. Results revealed a significant reduction in serum corticosterone level, gene expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative biomarkers in restrained rats treated with CSO. The histopathological findings revealed restoring necrosis and neuronal loss in CSO-treated-restraint rats. The immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a significant reduction in the immuno-expression of caspase-3, nuclear factor kappa B, interleukin-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and an elevation of calbindin-28k and synaptophysin expression compared to non-treated restraint rats. The molecular docking showed the CSO high affinity for several target proteins, including caspase-3, COX-2, corticotropin-releasing hormone binding protein, corticotropin-releasing factor receptors 1 and 2, interleukin-1 receptor types 1 and 2, interleukin-6 receptor subunits alpha and beta. In conclusion, CSO emerges as a promising candidate against stress-induced brain disruptions by suppressing inflammatory/oxidative/apoptotic signaling pathways due to its numerous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components, mainly α-linolenic acid. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the CSO therapeutic impacts in human neurodisturbances.

Comparative Potential of Zinc Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Lycopene, and Coenzyme Q10 on Cadmium-Induced Male Infertility

The human exposure to toxic chemicals and heavy metals is one of the main predisposing factors contributing to male infertility. Acute exposure to cadmium chloride results in testicular damage and infertility. The purpose of the present study was to investigate and compare the curative effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), lycopene, L-carnitine (LC), and zinc sulfate against the cadmium-induced infertility in male Wistar rats. Cadmium chloride (0.4 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to rats for three consecutive days. Then, oral administration of different treatments (i.e., LC 100 mg/kg, CoQ10 20 mg/kg, lycopene 4 mg/kg, zinc sulfate 6 mg/kg, and a combination LC-CoQ10 at 500/50 mg/kg) was carried out for 30 days. The impact of different treatments on semen parameters, such as sperm count and motility, testicular antioxidants, and serum testosterone, was determined. Furthermore, the morphology of epididymis sperms and histopathology of rat testes were also assessed. Cadmium exposure decreased the sperm count, progressive sperm motility, testosterone, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase and reduced glutathione (GSH). It also caused banana sperm tail, bent sperm head, vacuolization of seminiferous tubules, and oligospermia in rat testes. All treatments with nutraceuticals improved sperm count, sperm morphology, serum testosterone, vacuolization of seminiferous tubules, and oligospermia in diseased rats. Treatment with lycopene, LC, and LC-CoQ10 improved progressive sperm motility and other parameters and increased SOD, GSH, and CAT in the rat testes. CoQ10 also increased SOD activity in rat testes' tissue homogenates. It is concluded from the current study that all nutraceuticals partially improved reproductive toxicity of cadmium. The administration of lycopene and a high-dose combination of LC-CoQ10 were more efficacious in treating cadmium-induced infertility than other treatments. Treatment of cadmium-exposed rats with lycopene, LC, CoQ10, and LC-CoQ10 improved sperm count and motility through reduction of testicular oxidative stress and improving serum testosterone.

Borate Ameliorates Sodium Nitrite-Induced Oxidative Stress Through Regulation of Oxidant/Antioxidant Status: Involvement of the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB Pathways

The widespread industrial use of nitrite in preservatives, colorants, and manufacturing rubber products and dyes increases the possibilities of organ toxicity. Lithium borate (LB) is known as an antioxidant and an oxidative stress reliever. Therefore, this study is aimed at examining the effect of LB on nitrite-induced hepatorenal dysfunction. Twenty-eight male Swiss mice were divided into four equal groups. Group 1, the control group, received saline. Group 2 received LB orally for 5 consecutive days at a dose of 15 mg/kg bw. Group 3, the nitrite group, received sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) on Day 5 (60 mg/kg bw intraperitoneally). Group 4, the protective group (LB + NaNO₂ group), received LB for 5 days and then a single dose of NaNO₂ intraperitoneally on Day 5, the same as in Groups 2 and 3, respectively. Samples of blood and kidney were taken for serum analysis of hepatorenal biomarkers, levels of antioxidants and cytokines, and the expression of genes associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. NaNO₂ intoxication increased markers of liver and kidney functions yet decreased reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities in blood. NaNO₂ also increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 (IL-1β and IL-6). Pre-administration of LB protected mice from oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and the decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity. Moreover, LB protected mice from cytokine changes, which remained within normal levels. LB ameliorated the changes induced by NaNO₂ on the mRNA of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nfr2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These results collectively demonstrate that LB ameliorated NaNO₂-induced oxidative stress by controlling the oxidative stress biomarkers and the oxidant/antioxidant state through the involvement of the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Potentiating response of D- Ribose-L-Cysteine on Sodium arsenate- induced hormonal imbalance, spermatogenesis impairments and histomorphometric alterations in adult male Wistar rat

Objective:

Reproductive toxicity is an important health challenge, mostly associated with exposure to several environmental toxicants. Arsenic is a ubiquitous toxic compound naturally present in the environment. This study was carried out to evaluate the dietary supplements of D-Ribose-L-Cysteine against sodium arsenate-induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats.

Methods:

A total of 32 male rats (150-250g) were randomly divided into four (4) groups (n=8). Group A received normal saline as placebo; Group B received 8mg/kg BW of Sodium arsenate only; Group C received 8mg/kg BW of Sodium arsenate and 10 mg/kg BW of D-Ribose- L-cysteine; Group D received 8mg/kg BW of Sodium arsenate and 30 mg/kg BW of D-Ribose- L-cysteine. All administration was done via oral gavage for 28 days, thereafter the animals were sedated with pentobarbital sodium (intraperitoneally); we obtained testes and blood serum for analysis.

Results:

The results showed abnormal testicular morphology with degeneration and decrease in spermatogonia, vacuolation and empty lumen, intense necrosis, spermatogenesis disruption (decrease sperm count, motility, viability) and degraded germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules, reduction in the hormone profile (FSH, LH, and TT) and oxidative stress parameters (CAT, GSH, and SOD) with a corresponding increase in MDA level in the arsenic-only treated rats (group B) compared to their control counterparts (group A), but it was ameliorated after DRLC administration, both in low and high doses, respectively.

Conclusions:

D-Ribose-L-Cysteine attenuated distorted testicular morphology, altered semen characteristics, hormone profile, and oxidative stress markers by preventing the deleterious toxicity of sodium arsenate.

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.

Sulforaphane response on aluminum-induced oxidative stress, alterations in sperm characterization and testicular histomorphometry in Wistar rats

Background

The exposure of male individual to environmental toxicant is regarded as a channel that results in reduced sperm counts and infertility.

Objective

This study investigated the ameliorative response of Sulforaphane (SFN) on Aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods

A total of 32 adult male Wistar rats (180-200 gm between 8-10 wk) were divided into four groups (n = 8/each). Group A) received distilled water orally as placebo; Group B) received 100 mg/kgbw AlCl3 only orally; Group C) received 100 mg/kgbw AlCl3 and 100 mg/kgbw SFN orally; and Group D) received 100 mg/kgbw SFN only orally. After 28 days of experiment, animals underwent cervical dislocation, blood serum was obtained for analysis, and testes were harvested for biochemical assays, histology, hormonal profile, and sperm characterization.

Results

The sperm parameters showed a significant difference within the AlCl3 only group compared with the control and SFN only groups (p = 0.02). However, AlCl3 and SFN co-treatment showed improvement in the motility, viability, and sperm count compared with the AlCl3 only group (p = 0.02). Furthermore, there was a significant decline in the levels of hormones profile and antioxidant status in AlCl3 only group compared to the control and SFN only (p = 0.02). The testicular histoarchitecture of the AlCl3 only group showed shrinkage of seminiferous tubules, spermatogenesis disruption, and empty lumen compared to the control and SFN only groups.

Conclusion

The present study revealed the ameliorative response of SFN on AlCl3-induced testicular toxicity on serum hormone profiles, antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation, and histomorphometric analysis through oxidative stress.