Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used endocrine disrupter that causes male reproductive dysfunction in humans and rodents. Diabetes-induced hyperglycemia alters spermatogenesis and antioxidant status, which negatively impacts male fertility in adults. Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global health concern maintaining the testicular structure and functions in developing gonads. The present experiment was designed to investigate the role of Zn deficiency on BPA-induced germ cell and male gonadal toxicity in diabetic conditions. Rats were randomly divided into eight different groups - control (normal feed and water), BPA (10mg/kg/day), ZDD (fed with a Zn-deficient diet), DIA (diabetic), BPA+ZDD, BPA+DIA, ZDD+DIA and BPA+ZDD+DIA for four weeks. Animals' body and organ weight, sperm count, motility and sperm morphology were examined; testes and epididymis histopathology were investigated. Testicular DNA damage and sperm apoptosis were evaluated by halo and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays respectively. Testicular catalase and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) expressions were evaluated by western blot analysis. The present results demonstrated that dietary Zn-deficient condition significantly increased the BPA-induced testicular, epididymal and sperm toxicity in diabetic rats due to hypogonadism, increased sperm abnormalities, epididymis, testicular structure and DNA damages, sperm apoptosis as well as decreased testicular catalase and OCT4 expressions. The present results revealed that dietary Zn-deficient condition exacerbated the BPA-induced testicular and epididymal toxicity as well as perturbed the general male reproductive health in diabetic rats.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.