Attenuating effect of lycopene and ellagic acid on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin–induced spermiotoxicity and testicular apoptosis

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the prophylactic effects of lycopene (LC) and ellagic acid (EA) on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced testicular and spermatozoal toxicity. These toxicological changes are associated with the oxidative stress and apoptosis in male rats. Forty-eight male rats were allocated to one of six groups of 8 rats each: control, LC, EA, TCDD, TCDD+LC, and TCDD+EA. The control group was treated with 0.5 mL/rat slightly alkaline solution+0.5 mL/rat corn oil every other day. The LC group was treated with 0.5 mL/rat slightly alkaline solution+0.5 mL/rat corn oil containing 10 mg/kg of LC every other day. The EA group received 0.5 mL/rat corn oil+0.5 mL/rat slightly alkaline solution containing 2 mg/kg of EA every other day. The TCDD group received 0.5 mL/rat corn oil containing 100 ng/kg/day of TCDD+0.5 mL/rat slightly alkaline solution. The TCDD+LC group was treated with 0.5 mL/rat TCDD+0.5 mL/rat LC. The TCDD+EA group was treated with 0.5 mL/rat TCDD+0.5 mL/rat EA. All treatments were made by gavage, and the experimental period was maintained during 8 weeks. Sperm motility, concentration, and abnormal sperm rate in epididymal tissue, testicular tissue lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidant enzyme activity, histopathological changes, and apoptosis (i.e., Bax and Bcl-2 proteins) were determined. TCDD exposure resulted in significant decreases in sperm motility, concentration, testicular superoxide dismutase activity, germinal cell-layer thickness, Johnsen's testicular score, and significant increases in abnormal sperm rate, testicular malondialdehyde, glutathione levels, Bax-positive staining, and Bax-positive apoptotic cell score, along with some testicular histopathological lesions. TCDD treatment did not affect significantly catalase activity. However, combined treatment with LC or EA, in addition to TCDD, prevented the development of TCDD-induced damages in sperm quality, testicular histology, and LPO. Improvements in testicular apoptosis after the administration of LC and EA to TCDD-treated rats were minimal, but not statistically significant. TCDD-induced lipid peroxidation leads to functional and structural damages, as well as apoptosis, in spermatogenic cells of rats. Both LC and EA protected against the development of these effects.

Effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide, clothianidin, on the reproductive organ system in adult male rats

“…There were increases in the number of TUNEL-positive cells, but not significantly, in the germinal epithelium of the testis of rats exposed to CTD for 90 consecutive days in a dose-dependent manner. It has been reported (Ates°s°ahin et al, 2010;Sönmez et al, 2011) that an increase in apoptotic germ cells is shown after exposure of different environmental pollutants associated with increased LPO. Bal et al (2012a) have reported that only 32 mg/kg of NOAEL dose of CTD, but not lower than the NOAEL dose (2 and 8 mg/kg), caused a significant increase in AI in the testis of developing rats.…”

Evaluation of ameliorating effect of lycopene against testicular toxicity due to diethylnitrosamine using biochemical, spermatological and histopathological data

“…It has been reported that lycopene reduces lipid peroxidation levels, regulates antioxidant enzyme activities and sperm parameters by the studies examining the effects of lycopene against testicular toxicity caused by cisplatin (Ateşşahin, Karahan, Türk et al, ), adriamycin (Ateşşahin, Karahan, Yılmaz, Çeribaşı, & Bulmuş, ), ischaemia/reperfusion (Hekimoglu et al, ), cyclophosphamide (Çeribaşi, Türk, Sönmez, Sakin, & Ateşşahin, ; Türk, Çeribaşi, Sakin, Sönmez, & Ateşşahin, ) and 2, 3, 7, 8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD; Sönmez, Türk, Çeribaşı, Sakin, & Ateşşahin, ). These studies showed significant reductions in sperm concentration, sperm motility and an increase in abnormal sperm rates in DEN‐treated rats.…”

Protective effects of curcumin on antioxidant status, body weight gain, and reproductive parameters in male rats exposed to subchronic 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

“…TCDD exposure can also lead to biochemical and pathological changes within the reproductive systems of male rats (Sonmez et al 2011;Beytur et al 2012). TCDD exposure is known to lead to infertility in humans and animals by increasing tissue damage and oxidative stress in the testis tissue and by adversely affecting sperm characteristics.…”