Palliative Effect of Resveratrol against Nanosized Iron Oxide-Induced Oxidative Stress and Steroidogenesis-Related Genes Dysregulation in Testicular Tissue of Adult Male Rats

Abstract

The nano-sized iron oxide (Fe2O3-NPs) is one of the most used engineered nanomaterials worldwide. This study investigated the efficacy of natural polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) (20 mg/kg b.wt, orally once daily) to alleviate the impaired sperm quality and testicular injury resulting from Fe2O3-NPs exposure (3.5 or 7 mg/kg b.wt, intraperitoneally once a week) for eight weeks. Spermiograms, sexual hormonal levels, oxidative stress indicators, and lipid peroxidation biomarker were assessed. Moreover, the steroidogenesis-related genes mRNA expressions were evaluated. The results showed that RSV substantially rescued Fe2O3-NPs-mediated sperm defects. Additionally, the Fe2O3-NPs-induced depressing effects on sperm motility and viability were markedly counteracted by RSV. Moreover, RSV significantly restored Fe2O3-NPs-induced depletion of testosterone, follicle-stimulated hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testicular antioxidant enzymes but reduced malondialdehyde content. Furthermore, the Fe2O3-NPs-induced downregulation of steroidogenesis-related genes (3 β-HSD, 17 β-HSD, and Nr5A1) was significantly counteracted in the testicular tissue of RSV-treated rats. These findings concluded that RSV could limit the Fe2O3-NPs-induced reduced sperm quality and testicular injury most likely via their antioxidant activity and steroidogenesis-related gene expression modulation.

Quercetin Abates Aluminum Trioxide Nanoparticles and Lead Acetate Induced Altered Sperm Quality, Testicular Oxidative Damage, and Sexual Hormones Disruption in Male Rats

“…In this era, there is a global demand to find natural supplements with antioxidant properties that could mitigate the harmful effects of environmental contaminants on man and animal fertility [ 43 , 44 ]. Quercetin (QTN) (3,5,7,30,40-pentahydroxyflavone) is an intriguing polyphenolic flavonoid present in broccoli, tea, red wine, red grapes, cherries, kales, apples, and berries in sufficient amounts.…”

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Male Infertility: Established Methodologies and Future Perspectives

“…The impact of external factors such as metal nanoparticles, which induce OS, on the expression of genes associated with steroidogenesis have been evaluated [86,87]. The analysis by Hussein and colleagues (2016) [88] determined that exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles reduced the expression of nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1), hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), 3 beta-and steroid deltaisomerase (3β-HSD), and testosterone, thus compromising male fertility.…”

Iron overload triggering ECM-mediated Hippo/YAP pathway in follicle development: a hypothetical model endowed with therapeutic implications

“…The recovery effect of RSV on ferroptosis has been widely established ( 171 – 174 ). RSV significantly restored the consumption of exogenous iron on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA, a product of membrane lipid peroxidation positively associated with ferroptosis) content ( 175 ). Additionally, it can effectively reduce oxidative stress and apoptosis of granulosa cells and oocytes in rats ( 176 ).…”