Abstract
Exposure to lead (Pb) causes multiorgan dysfunction including reproductive impairments. Here, we examined the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) administration on testicular injury induced by lead acetate (PbAc) exposure in rats. This study employed four experimental groups (n = 7) that underwent seven days of treatment as follows: control group intraperitoneally (i.p.) treated with 0.1 ml of 0.9% NaCl containing 1% Tween 80 (v : v), CoQ10 group that was i.p. injected with 10 mg/kg CoQ10, PbAc group that was i.p. treated with PbAc (20 mg/kg), and PbAc+CoQ10 group that was i.p. injected with CoQ10 2 h after PbAc. PbAc injection resulted in increasing residual Pb levels in the testis and reducing testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Additionally, PbAc exposure resulted in significant oxidative damage to the tissues on the testes. PbAc raised the levels of prooxidants (malondialdehyde and nitric oxide) and reduced the amount of endogenous antioxidative proteins (glutathione and its derivative enzymes, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) available in the cell. Moreover, PbAc induced the inflammatory response as evidenced by the upregulation of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta). Further, PbAc treatment induced apoptosis in the testicular cells, as indicated by an increase in Bax and caspase 3 expression, and reduced Bcl2 expression. CoQ10 supplementation improved testicular function by inhibiting Pb accumulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and histopathological changes following PbAc exposure. Our findings suggest that CoQ10 can act as a natural therapeutic agent to protect against the reproductive impairments associated with PbAc exposure.
Highlights
Lead is an important environmental pollutant, which can cause serious illness if it is not controlled and monitored
Rats posttreated with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) showed a marked decrease in Pb levels in the testicular tissues when compared to the PbAc-treated group (Figure 1)
CoQ10 supplementation of Pb-free rats showed a significant increase in testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, while follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) remained unchanged when compared to the control group
Summary
Lead is an important environmental pollutant, which can cause serious illness if it is not controlled and monitored. Excess exposure to lead products reduces semen quality and reproductive capacity causing male infertility [6]. It promotes apoptosis and DNA damage in the spermatozoa [1] and activates Bax and caspase-3 in spermatogenic cells, which induces apoptosis [5]. It was reported that lead exposure causes an increase in membrane lipid peroxidation as well as reductions in the endogenous antioxidant [9] It reduces the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and other enzymatic antioxidants [9]. Deficiency in CoQ10 has been linked to impaired sperm parameters [13] It has been used in several studies as a treatment for infertile men. The study will explore the antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties of CoQ10, with a specific emphasis on the Nfe212/Hmox pathway
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