Sodium Selenite Protects Against Silver Nanoparticle-Induced Testicular Toxicity and Inflammation

Abstract

Metal nanomaterials hold great potential and play an important role in consumer products. However, the increasing use of nanomaterials has raised concern over inadvertent exposure and potential risks for human health and the environment. Henceforth, in vivo testing of nanoparticles and protection against its toxicity is required. Using rat as an animal model, effect of sodium selenite (Se), an essential trace element, on rat testes exposed to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was evaluated. Male rats were treated with AgNPs (5 mg/kg/b.w) i/p or Se (0.2 mg/kg/b.w) by gavage. AgNP administration decreased Glutathione (GSH) levels and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). However, treatment with Se increased GSH levels and activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx compared with AgNP-treated group and decreased the level of MDA and inflammatory biomarkers significantly (p < 0.05) as compared with AgNP-treated group. Light microscopic analyses also revealed that AgNP induced histopathological changes in testes tissue. Further, protection by Se on biochemical results was confirmed by alleviation of the histopathological changes in the tissue. Results show the adverse effects of AgNPs on the male reproductive tract, particularly spermatogenesis, and suggest that Se possesses significant potential in reducing AgNP-induced testicular toxicity.

Effects of <i>Vernonia cinerea</i> on reproductive performance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…Previous studies have reported that some phytochemicals including gallic acid has the potential to protect against oxidative stress in the testes and to reversed sperm abnormalities [25, 34]. Another study showed that selenium had beneficial effects on male infertility, wherein it improved the sperm count and motility, increased serum testosterone levels and alleviated the histopathological changes in the testes [3, 32, 33]. Furthermore, our results are in agreement with those of previous studies, showing that VC treatment in diabetic rats increased sperm concentration and motility, increased serum testosterone levels and improve the testicular microstructure.…”

“…The bioactive compounds of VC have been characterized and quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Various phytochemical substances, including sterols, flavonoids, triterpenoids, sesquiterpenes and tannins, have been isolated from VC by GC/MS [3, 21, 28, 37, 43, 44]. Other phytochemical substances have been identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), including phenolic compounds, gallic acid, rutin, quercetin, caffeic acid and ferulic acid.…”

The protective effect of Kombucha against silver nanoparticles‐induced toxicity on testicular tissue in NMRI mice

“…Ansar et al showed that SNPs can result in the testicular inflammation and toxicity in male rats (Ansar et al., 2017). These particles bring out the pathological changes in the testicular tissues.…”

Hesperidin alleviates zinc oxide nanoparticle induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress

“…They may then translocate to blood causing adverse biological reactions in different tissues [ 18 ]. The adverse effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the male reproductive tract, in particular spermatogenesis, and suggest that selenium can protect against AgNP-induced testicular toxicity [ 19 ].…”