Kaempferol alleviates bisphenol A reproductive toxicity in rats in a dose-dependent manner

BACKGROUND

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including bisphenol A (BPA), are a major cause of male infertility by disrupting spermatogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we examined the potential protective benefits of kaempferol (KMF), a flavonol known for its antioxidant properties, on BPA-induced reproductive toxicity in adult male rats.

METHODS

Human skin fibroblast cells (HNFF-P18) underwent cell viability assays. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: 1) control, 2) BPA (10 mg/kg), 3,4) BPA, and different dosages of KMF (1 and 10 mg/kg). The study examined the rats' testosterone serum level, antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), oxidative markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), body weight, weight ratios of testis and prostate, and histopathological examinations.

RESULTS

The study revealed that using KMF to treat rats exposed to BPA increased cell viability. Moreover, the rats' testosterone levels, which BPA reduced, showed a significant increase after KMF was included in the treatment regimen. Treatment with BPA led to oxidative stress and tissue damage, but simultaneous treatment with KMF restored the damaged tissue to its normal state. Histopathology studies on testis and prostate tissues showed that KMF had an ameliorative impact on BPA-induced tissue damage.

CONCLUSIONS

The research suggests that KMF, a flavonol, could protect male rats from the harmful effects of BPA on reproductive health, highlighting its potential healing properties.

In vitro evaluation of cell viability and expression profile of growth factors in mouse Sertoli cells exposed to Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: a mechanistic insight into the cannabinoid-induced testicular toxicity

The potentially adverse effects of cannabis (marijuana), a common leisure compound, on male reproductive performance are a reason for concern. δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active component of marijuana alters testicular cells' proliferation and function which affects male fertility and causes testicular cells dysfunction and apoptosis. The main objective of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism underlying the toxic effects of THC with a mechanistic insight into Sertoli cell-based reproductive dysfunction. The Mus musculus Sertoli cell line (TM4) was cultured and exposed to different concentrations of THC and, MTT (3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was then performed for evaluating cell viability. The expression of caspase-3 gene and genes related to growth factors were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. Western blotting was performed for evaluating protein expression level. THC concentration-dependently decreased the TM4 viability with a significant effect starting at concentration of 1 μM and reaching about 75% of the control level at the concentration of 50 μM (IC25). Moreover, caspase-3 mRNA expression levels significantly increased while growth factors mRNA levels decreased in THC-exposed cells compared to unexposed cells. There was also a significant reduction in related protein levels in THC group. Administration of the THC promotes cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on TM4 cells partly through down-regulation of growth factors expression. Increased apoptosis, over expression of caspase-3, and down-regulation of growth factors expression in Sertoli cells exposed to THC may be a reflection of THC-induced testicular toxicity, which may be partly involved in infertility associated with marijuana smoking or medical cannabis use.

Non-Lethal Concentrations of CdCl2 Cause Marked Alternations in Cellular Stress Responses within Exposed Sertoli Cell Line

Cadmium is a component of ambient metal pollution, which is linked to diverse health issues globally, including male reproductive impairment. Assessments of the acute effects of cadmium on male reproduction systems, such as testes, tend to be based on frank adverse effects, with particular molecular pathways also involved. The relationship between cytotoxicity potential and cellular stress response has been suggested to be one of the many possible drivers of the acute effects of cadmium, but the link remains uncertain. In consequence, there is still much to be learned about the cellular stress response induced by a non-lethal concentration of cadmium in male reproductive cells. The present study used temporal assays to evaluate cellular stress response upon exposure to non-lethal concentrations of Cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) in the Sertoli cell line (TM4). The data showed alternations in the expression of genes intimated involved in various cellular stress responses, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, endoplasmic unfolded protein stress (UPRmt), endoplasmic dynamics, Nrf2-related antioxidative response, autophagy, and metallothionein (MT) expression. Furthermore, these cellular responses interacted and were tightly related to oxidative stress. Thus, the non-lethal concentration of cadmium perturbed the homeostasis of the Sertoli cell line by inducing pleiotropic cellular stresses.

PGAM1 is Involved in Spermatogenic Dysfunction and Affects Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Migration

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between PGAM1 and spermatogenic dysfunction and to evaluate the effect of expression of PGAM1 on the function of germ cells.

METHODS

Expression of PGAM1 was detected in 40 cases of infertile males with definite pathological diagnosis and 12 cases of mouse models with spermatogenic dysfunction by immunohistochemistry. Then, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were evaluated when expression of PGAM1 was knocked down by a specific small interfering RNA in GC1 and TM4 cells.

RESULTS

The positive rates of PGAM1 in patients with normal spermatogenesis, mild hypospermatogenesis, severe hypospermatogenesis, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome were 90%, 80%, 10%, 100%, respectively, and the difference was significant (P < .001). Meanwhile, expression of PGAM1 was found to be significantly decreased in mouse models with spermatogenic dysfunction. Moreover, when expression of PGAM1 was knocked down in GC1 cells, the proliferation and migration were significantly inhibited, but the rate of apoptosis was significantly increased. Furthermore, PGAM1 downregulation in TM4 cells significantly inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis but didn't affect migration.

CONCLUSION

PGAM1 correlates with spermatogenic distinction and affects the function of cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration.