ABSTRACT
Valproic acid (VPA), an anti-epileptic drug, has been reported to cause male sub/infertility. Together with searching for alternative treatments, the degrees to which testosterone levels and sperm quality are decreased under VPA treatment also need to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Momordica cochinchinensis (MC) aril extract containing antioxidant capacity on adverse reproductive parameters induced with VPA. Rats were divided into 6 groups (control, VPA, 200 mg kg-1 of MC only, 50, 100, 200 mg kg-1 MC+VPA, respectively, n=8 in each). Animals were pretreated with MC extract for 23 days before co-administration with VPA (500 mg kg-1, i.p.) for 10 consecutive days. All reproductive parameters including histology, and expression of androgen receptor (AR), Ki-67, tyrosine phosphorylated proteins, and steroidogenic proteins in testis were examined. The results showed that MC could prevent all reproductive parameters in VPA-treated rats. Moreover, MC+VPA groups showed significant declining of testicular histopathologies compared to VPA group. It also decreased the malondialdehyde level and changes of the testicular StAR, AR, and tyrosine phosphorylated protein expressions. In conclusion, M. cochinchinensis aril extract can prevent adverse male reproductive parameters and essential testicular proteins damages induced with VPA.
Se ha informado que el ácido valproico (VPA), un fármaco antiepiléptico, causa infertilidad masculina. Junto con la búsqueda de tratamientos alternativos, los grados a los que los niveles de testosterona y la calidad del esperma son disminuidos bajo el tratamiento de VPA también necesitan ser aclarados. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos protectores del extracto aril de Momordica cochinchinensis (MC) que contiene capacidad antioxidante sobre parámetros reproductivos adversos inducidos con VPA. Las ratas se dividieron en 6 grupos (control, VPA, 200 mg kg-1 de MC solamente, 50, 100, 200 mg kg-1 de MC + VPA, respectivamente; n = 8 en cada uno). Los animales fueron pretratados con extracto de MC durante 23 días antes de la coadministración con VPA (500 mg kg-1, i.p.) durante 10 días consecutivos. Se examinaron todos los parámetros reproductivos, incluyendo la histología, y la expresión de receptor de andrógenos (AR), Ki-67, proteínas fosforiladas con tirosina y proteínas esteroidogénicas en los testículos. Los resultados mostraron que MC podría prevenir todos los parámetros reproductivos en las ratas tratadas con VPA. Además, los grupos MC + VPA mostraron una disminución significativa de las histopatologías testiculares en comparación con el grupo VPA. También disminuyó el nivel de malondialdehído y los cambios de las expresiones testiculares de las proteínas StAR, AR y tirosina fosforiladas. En conclusión, el extracto de aril de M. cochinchinensis puede prevenir los parámetros reproductivos masculinos adversos y los daños esenciales de proteínas testiculares inducidos con VPA.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Testis/drug effects , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Valproic Acid/toxicity , Momordica/chemistry , Antioxidants/administration & dosage , Phosphoproteins , Immunohistochemistry , Receptors, Androgen/drug effects , Blotting, Western , Rats, Wistar , Ki-67 AntigenABSTRACT
The effect of exposure to lead on endocrine function was studied in pubertal rats treated with 1.0 g/l lead acetate (PbAc) in drinkin water for 20 days (subacute group) or 9 months (chronic group) in addition to iv injections of PbAc (0.1mg/100g body weight) every 10(subacute group) or 15 days (chronic group). Although basal levels of testosterone were higher both in the plasma and in the testes of acuctely intoxicated animals, the ciruclating levels of lutinizing hormone (LH) were not affected in either group, nor was the LHRH content of the median eminence. The density of [125I]LH/hCG biding sites in testicular homogenates was reduced by saturnism in both groups. Howeverm the apparent affinity constant of the hormone-receptor complex significantly increased. These data can be viewed as the result of a mixture of specific lead toxicity (e.g., at the enzyme level) with other more general actions (e.g., at the level of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis)