Nobiletin ameliorates nonylphenol-induced testicular damage by improving biochemical, steroidogenic, hormonal, spermatogenic, apoptotic and histological profile

Abstract

Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental contaminant, which adversely affects the male fertility due to endocrine disruption and generation of oxidative stress. The current research was planned to assess the effects of nobiletin (NOB), a polymethoxyflavone, on NP-induced testicular damages. Twenty-four male rats were divided into 4 groups: control (0.1% DMSo), NP group (50 mg/kg), NP+NOB group (50 mg/kg + 25 mg/kg), and NOB group (25 mg/kg). Our results revealed that NP brought down the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GSR), while elevated the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Additionally, NP decreased the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma testosterone, daily sperm production (DSP), epididymal sperm count, viability, motility, gene expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD) and anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2), as well as number of spermatogenic cells belonging to various stages. Whereas, sperm (head, mid-piece/neck and tail) abnormalities, expression of apoptotic proteins (Bax and caspase-3), and histopathological damages were increased. However, NOB remarkably reversed all the damages caused by NP. Therefore, it is deduced that NOB could be used as a potential therapeutic to counter the NP-prompted oxidative stress and apoptotic damages in testes.

Nobiletin Protects Against Diabetes-induced Testicular Injury via Hypophysis-gonadal Axis Up-regulation and Amelioration of Oxidative Stress

“…Many studies have revealed that nobiletin could improve the antioxidant defense and decreases lipid peroxidation [75,76,17]. This antioxidant effect may be gifted by modifying the antioxidants gene manifestation [77], free radical reducing action [17], or by decreasing hyperglycemia [78]. The antioxidant effect of nobiletin is in agreement with the results of Bi et al [75].…”

“…Administration of either low or high dose of nobiletin reduced lipid peroxidation and returned changed levels of the antioxidant defenses. Many studies have revealed that nobiletin could improve the antioxidant defense and decreases lipid peroxidation [75,76,17]. This antioxidant effect may be gifted by modifying the antioxidants gene manifestation [77], free radical reducing action [17], or by decreasing hyperglycemia [78].…”

“…It has many pharmacological properties and shows anti-in ammatory [11], anti-atherogenic [12], anti-diabetic [13], immunomodulatory [14], nephroprotective [15], neuroprotective and antioxidant properties [16]. It has been reported that nobiletin markedly reduces testicular tissue lipid peroxidation and enhances biochemical and sperm parameters, in addition to enhancement in the epididymal functions [17]. Nobiletin was also known to ameliorate the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus by protecting β-cells from apoptosis [18].…”

Dose-Dependent Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on the Testicular Tissues of the Male Sprague Dawley Rats

“…β-actin was used as internal control and relative expressions were assessed by 2 -ΔΔCT . Primer sequences of β-actin and target genes are shown in Table 1 as reported previously in Ijaz et al 17 …”

Nobiletin protects against diabetes-induced testicular injury via hypophysis–gonadal axis upregulation and amelioration of oxidative stress

“…immunomodulatory [14], nephroprotective [15], neuroprotective and antioxidant properties [16]. It has been reported that nobiletin markedly reduces testicular tissue lipid peroxidation and enhances biochemical and sperm parameters, in addition to enhancement in the epididymal functions [17]. Nobiletin was also known to ameliorate the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus by protecting β-cells from apoptosis [18].…”