Protective effect of cerium oxide nanoparticle on sperm quality and oxidative damage in malathion-induced testicular toxicity in rats: An experimental study

Abstract

Background:Malathion is an organophosphorus pesticide that commonly used in many agricultural and non-agricultural processes. Previous studies have reported the effects of melatonin on the reproductive system. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) due to their antioxidative properties are promising to impact on the development of male infertility.Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CeNPs on oxidative stress and sperm parameters after malathion exposure of male rats.Materials and Methods:36 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups (n=6/each): Control, CeNPs -treated control (15 and 30 mg/kg/day), malathion (100 mg/ kg/day), and CeNPs -treated malathion groups (15 and 30 mg/ kg/day). At the end of the study (4 wk), the sperm counts, motility, and viability in the testis of rats were measured, also lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, and total thiol groups in homogenate testis were investigated.Results:Malathion significantly reduced sperm count, viability, and motility than the control rats (p<0.001). Co-treatment of malathion with CeNPs 30 mg/kg had a protective effect on sperm counts (p=0.03), motility (p=0.01), and viability (p<0.001) compare to malathion group. Also, the results showed that malathion reduced testis total anti-oxidant capacity, the total thiol group, and increased testis malondialdehyde than the control rats (p<0.001). CeNPs 30 mg/kg are increased total antioxidant capacity (p<0.001) and total thiol group (p=0.03) compared to malathion group. CeNPs at both doses (15 and 30 mg/kg) improved malondialdehyde than the malathion group (p<0.001 and p=0.01 respectively).Conclusion:CeNPs 30 mg/kg administered considerably restored testicular changes induced by malathion. The improvement of oxidative stress by CeNPs may be associated with increased sperm counts, motility and viability in the testis.

Protective Role of Ce Nanoparticles Against the Hepatotoxicity Induced by Exposure to Paraquat

“…The results of this study showed that CeNPs at a dose of 60 mg/kg may be slightly toxic. The protective effect of CeNPs was also studied after exposure to malathion subchronic in reproductive system (28). Hence the clinical value of this study is also confirmed.…”

Organophosphate toxicity: updates of malathion potential toxic effects in mammals and potential treatments

“…Many other in vivo and in vitro studies in animals supported the oxidative stress theory (Moridi et al 2018;Arab et al 2018); MAL-induced oxidative stress was also recently observed in many types of human cells (Durak et al 2009;Tuzcu et al 2014;Yan et al 2019;Shieh et al 2019). They found that MAL treatment leads to enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent lipid peroxidation (Durak et al 2009;Bhardwaj et al 2018).…”

Nanotechnology in reproductive medicine: Opportunities for clinical translation

“…Male factor infertility can result from a low sperm count, poor sperm quality, or both. According to global statistics, about 15% of couples suffer from infertility-related issues, and in 50% of these couples, the male partner is affected by aberrations in sperm properties, count, vitality, and morphology [103,104]. This fact underscores the need to develop novel methodologies for the early identification of the causes of infertility and approaches for the personalized treatment of infertility.…”

“…In this aspect, nanotechnology has come to the forefront in recent years, offering better solutions for infertility related issues. One such solution was described in the work of Moridi et al [ 105 ], who found that the deleterious effect of malathion, a common organophosphorus pesticide, on the male reproductive system was remarkably reduced by the application of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeNPs). Restoration of testicular changes was observed upon treatment with CeNPs in malathion-exposed male rats, and the nanoparticles exerted a protective effect on sperm count, motility, and viability.…”