Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling
Lead (Pb) acts as an environmental endocrine disruptor and has negative effects in animals; excessive accumulation of lead causes reproductive dysfunction in male animals. Oxidative stress plays a vital role in Pb-induced injury. However, the mechanisms underlying chronic testicular toxicity of Pb r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323009855 |
| _version_ | 1797676644301799424 |
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| author | Ze-Min Zhao Su Mei Qi-Yue Zheng Jiao Wang Yi-Ru Yin Jiao-Jiao Zhang Xian-Zhong Wang |
| author_facet | Ze-Min Zhao Su Mei Qi-Yue Zheng Jiao Wang Yi-Ru Yin Jiao-Jiao Zhang Xian-Zhong Wang |
| author_sort | Ze-Min Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lead (Pb) acts as an environmental endocrine disruptor and has negative effects in animals; excessive accumulation of lead causes reproductive dysfunction in male animals. Oxidative stress plays a vital role in Pb-induced injury. However, the mechanisms underlying chronic testicular toxicity of Pb remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of lead acetate on reproductive function in male mice, identify the underlying mechanisms, and test counter measures to alleviate the toxic effects. Male mice were dosed with lead acetate (500 mg/L) in free drinking water for 12 weeks, and administered melatonin (5 mg/kg) or vitamin C (500 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. Blood from the eyeball, testicles, and sperm from the caudal epididymis were collected after 12 weeks and analyzed. Pb exposure reduced sperm count and motility, increased sperm malformation (P < 0.01), disrupted testicular morphology and structure, and decreased the expression of steroid hormone synthesis-related enzymes and serum testosterone concentration (P < 0.01). Pb also increased the number of inflammatory cells and the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.01), and activated NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, the ROS yield and oxidation indicators LPO and MDA were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the antioxidant indicators T-AOC, SOD, and GSH were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Treatment with melatonin or vitamin C reversed the effects of lead acetate; vitamin C was more effective in restoring SOD activity (P < 0.01) and enhancing ZO-1 protein levels (P < 0.01). Thus, long-term exposure to lead acetate at low concentrations could adversely affect sperm quality and induce inflammatory damage by oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling. Vitamin C could act as a protective agent and improve reproductive dysfunction in male animals after lead accumulation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:32:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8e0ef0f63bb452a856b9b6500c4f0db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T22:32:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8e0ef0f63bb452a856b9b6500c4f0db2023-09-23T05:10:11ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132023-10-01264115481Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signalingZe-Min Zhao0Su Mei1Qi-Yue Zheng2Jiao Wang3Yi-Ru Yin4Jiao-Jiao Zhang5Xian-Zhong Wang6Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest, University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest, University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest, University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest, University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest, University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest, University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR ChinaCorrespondence to: College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR China.; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest, University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR ChinaLead (Pb) acts as an environmental endocrine disruptor and has negative effects in animals; excessive accumulation of lead causes reproductive dysfunction in male animals. Oxidative stress plays a vital role in Pb-induced injury. However, the mechanisms underlying chronic testicular toxicity of Pb remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of lead acetate on reproductive function in male mice, identify the underlying mechanisms, and test counter measures to alleviate the toxic effects. Male mice were dosed with lead acetate (500 mg/L) in free drinking water for 12 weeks, and administered melatonin (5 mg/kg) or vitamin C (500 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. Blood from the eyeball, testicles, and sperm from the caudal epididymis were collected after 12 weeks and analyzed. Pb exposure reduced sperm count and motility, increased sperm malformation (P < 0.01), disrupted testicular morphology and structure, and decreased the expression of steroid hormone synthesis-related enzymes and serum testosterone concentration (P < 0.01). Pb also increased the number of inflammatory cells and the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.01), and activated NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, the ROS yield and oxidation indicators LPO and MDA were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the antioxidant indicators T-AOC, SOD, and GSH were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Treatment with melatonin or vitamin C reversed the effects of lead acetate; vitamin C was more effective in restoring SOD activity (P < 0.01) and enhancing ZO-1 protein levels (P < 0.01). Thus, long-term exposure to lead acetate at low concentrations could adversely affect sperm quality and induce inflammatory damage by oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling. Vitamin C could act as a protective agent and improve reproductive dysfunction in male animals after lead accumulation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323009855LeadMelatoninVitamin COxidative stressTestes |
| spellingShingle | Ze-Min Zhao Su Mei Qi-Yue Zheng Jiao Wang Yi-Ru Yin Jiao-Jiao Zhang Xian-Zhong Wang Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Lead Melatonin Vitamin C Oxidative stress Testes |
| title | Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling |
| title_full | Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling |
| title_fullStr | Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling |
| title_short | Melatonin or vitamin C attenuates lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated NF-κB signaling |
| title_sort | melatonin or vitamin c attenuates lead acetate induced testicular oxidative and inflammatory damage in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress mediated nf κb signaling |
| topic | Lead Melatonin Vitamin C Oxidative stress Testes |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323009855 |
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