Acrylamide-mediated subacute testicular and genotoxicity, is it reversible?

Abstract

Background and aim Humans may be susceptible to acrylamide poisoning that may induce genotoxicity and testicular toxicity. Studies on recovery from acrylamide-induced reproductive toxicity are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the natural recovery of testicular and genotoxicity caused by subacute exposure to acrylamide in rats. Materials and methods Thirty-six male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into six acrylamide-treated groups and one control group. They were dosed orally once a day with acrylamide at 45 mg/kg/day for 5 days and then held for different recovery periods (3, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 55 days). The parameters examined were sperm count and morphology, hormonal assay, histopathology, comet assay, and apoptosis detection in testis. Statistical analysis was carried out by one-way analysis of variance using the SPSS software (significance was considered at P<0.05). Results Sperm abnormalities (detached heads and intersegmentation) detected were decreased markedly after 55 days of recovery. Transforming growth factor-β1 level was significantly increased following 10 days of recovery and then reverted to control levels. Abnormalities in the testis were detected between 3 and 25 days of recovery. None of these abnormalities was observed after 55 days of recovery besides a reduction in the luminal sperm reserve of the epididymis. Significant DNA damage was also induced by arylamide in blood leukocytes and reached its maximum after 3 days of recovery (60%). A gradual reduction in cell damage and tail moment occurred until 15 days of recovery (1%). Conclusion This study showed that oral administration of acrylamide in rats at a dose of 45 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days induced systemic effects as well as reproductive toxicity. In general, these effects were reversible, although the extent of the recovery during the 55-day period studied ranged from complete to partial.