The Modulatory Role of Vitamin C in Boldenone Undecylenate Induced Testicular Oxidative Damage and Androgen Receptor Dysregulation in Adult Male Rats

Abstract

Background: This study explored the effect of vitamin C (Vit-C) administration on the reproductive function of adult male Wistar rats injected with boldenone undecylenate (BOL). Methods: Rats were randomly assigned into control, vehicle control, Vit-C (120 mg/kg b.wt./day, orally), BOL (received 5 mg/kg b.wt./week, IM) and BOL+Vit-C-treated groups. After eight weeks, hormonal assay, semen evaluation, testicular enzymes, and antioxidants biomarkers were assessed. Besides, the histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations of the androgen receptor (AR) expression were performed. Results: The results revealed that serum testosterone, acid phosphatase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, sperm abnormalities, and testicular malondialdehyde were significantly incremented in the BOL-treated group. Testicular weight, sperm count, and sperm motility together with serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol, and testicular testosterone, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione showed a significant decrease following BOL treatment. Besides, the AR immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in testicular tissues. Vit-C co-administration with BOL significantly relieved the BOL-induced sperm abnormalities, reduced sperm motility, testicular enzyme leakage, and oxidative damage. However, Vit-C could rescue neither BOL-induced hormonal disturbances nor AR down-regulation. Conclusions: The results provide further insight into the mechanisms of BOL-induced reproductive dysfunction and its partial recovery by Vit-C.

Boldenone Undecylenate-Mediated Hepatorenal Impairment by Oxidative Damage and Dysregulation of Heat Shock Protein 90 and Androgen Receptors Expressions: Vitamin C Preventive Role

“…The activation of the ARs in liver cells may increase ROS leading to hepatic cell degeneration which eventually leads to clinical signs of hepatotoxicity (Solimini et al, 2017). The impact of BLD on AR expressions in rat testes was previously reported by our earlier study (Behairy et al, 2020b). The current findings are similar to Patanè et al (2020), who hypothesized that oxidative stress in hepatic cells had been associated with hepatotoxicity caused by AASs.…”

“…The 17-beta-hydroxy group of injectable AASs, like BLD, is esterified, yielding more lipid-soluble products slowly released into the blood ( Liddle and Connor, 2013 ). Several health disorders have been associated with BLD misuse like renal damage ( Barakat et al, 2015 ), cardiovascular disorders ( Tousson et al, 2016 ), liver dysfunction ( Ziaolhagh et al, 2018 ), and testicular problems ( Behairy et al, 2020b ).…”

Impacts of n‐acetyl cysteine on gibberellic acid‐induced testicular dysfunction through regulation of inflammatory cytokines, steroid and antioxidant activity

“…Five microns thick tissue were prepared, stained with haematoxylin and eosin stains (Slaoui & Fiette, 2011), mounted in Canada Balsam, and examined by light microscope recording any histological change. A quantitative lesion scoring and morphometric assessment following (Behairy et al., 2020). All measurements were performed using AmScope software ToupView, AmScope, USA, and the results were shown in percentages (means ± SE ).…”

Cross Talk Between Down Regulation of Steroidogenic Genes Expression, Oxidative and Apoptotic Biomarkers in Testes Induced by Administration of Tramadol and Boldenone and Their Combination in Male Albino Rats

“…Our results also revealed that intraperitoneal injection of boldenone (5 mg/kg) induced oxidative stress in testicular tissue which was indicated by signi cant increase in MDA and NO and on the other hand a signi cant lowering of GSH and SOD in testiculat tissue. In a previous study (Behairy et al, 2020), authors veri ed an elevation of MDA and No as well as a decreament of SOD and GSH in rabbits due to injection with boldenone. Furthermore, a signi cant induction of lipid peroxidation, as well as complete inhibition of antioxidant capacity in testicular tissues in rats (S. S. Ibrahim & Said, 2019).…”