Appraisal of the Pre-Emptive Effect of Lactoferrin Against Chromium-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Rats

Abstract

Lactoferrin (LCF), a potent naturally occurring antioxidant, is a crucial component in preventing potassium dichromate (PDC) toxicity. The goal of the current work was to study the potential efficacy of LCF in preventing PDC(CrVI)-induced testicular toxicity and oxidative injury in rats. Six groups of male rats of Wistar stain were randomly categorized into: group 1, which served as the control; group 2 and 3 received LCF (200 and 300 mg/kg orally, respectively); group 4 received PDC (2 mg/kg i.p.); group 5 and 6 pretreated with LCF, followed by PDC as in group 4 with 90 min apart for 28 days. PDC-intoxicated rats showed a significantly altered spermogram with abnormal sperm morphology. PDC significantly upregulated serum FSH and downregulated testosterone levels. Additionally, PDC decreased the levels of testicular key antioxidant biomarkers (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH)) with elevated lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS) and testicular chromium content. Moreover, it upregulated testicular proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, induced histopathological changes in testes with significant immunohistochemical expression of FasL and moderate expression of Nrf2. Pretreatment with LCF significantly mitigated PDC-induced testicular toxicity by enhancing spermogram, improving hormonal levels, restoring testicular oxidant/antioxidant balance, and decreasing testicular IL-1, IL6, IL-10, and TNFα levels, and amending both FasL and Nrf2 immunohistochemical-expression. Additionally, LCF improved testicular histopathological picture and spermatogenesis. Our results highlight the importance of LCF as a superior protective modulator of PDC-induced testicular injury.

The protective effect of crocin against testicular toxicity induced by ionizing radiation via AKT/FOXO pathway

“…The obtained paraffin blocks were recycled to investigate the immune‐expression of NFκB p65 and Nrf2 in testicular tissue of various experimental groups 29 . In short‐term, the tissue sections were exposed to antigenic retrieval by pretreating the tissue with citrate buffer (PH 6) for 20 min.…”

“…The obtained paraffin blocks were recycled to investigate the immune-expression of NFκB p65 and Nrf2 in testicular tissue of various experimental groups. 29 In short-term, the tissue sections were exposed to antigenic retrieval by pretreating the tissue with citrate buffer (PH 6) for 20 min. Then, the slides were incubated with the primary antibody (rabbit monoclonal anti-rat NF-κB p65 at concentration of 1:100 and rabbit monoclonal anti-rat Nrf2 at concentration of 1:150 dilutions) (Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA, ab288751 and ab223926 respectively) in a humidified chamber.…”