Abstract
BackgroundThe current study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of Lavandula stoechas essential oils (LSEO) against malathion (M) exposure-caused reprotoxicity in male mice as well as the possible mechanisms implicated in such protection.MethodsSix–eight-week-old male mice weighting 25–30 g were used and divided into four groups: normal-control, LSEO (50 mg/kg, b.w.), malathion (200 mg/kg, b.w.) and malathion + LSEO treated mice. Malathion was emulsioned in corn oil and per orally administered for 30 days. LSEO was daily administrated during the same period. LSEO chemical identification was done by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Reproduction-damages and LSEO-benefits were assessed using histopathological, biochemical and steroidogenesis gene expression disruptions and improvements.ResultsThe GC-MS analysis, allowed to the identification of 25 bioactive compounds in MCEO. In vivo, we firstly found that malathion exposure induced a clear reprotoxicity as assessed by a significant-decrease (P < 0.05) of testis/epididymis relative weights, serum testosterone level and reproductive performance. Malathion also produced lipoperoxidation, thiol (-SH) groups decrease as well as a significant-depletion (P < 0.05) of antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in testis and epididymis. The histopathological examination showed marked change in both studied tissues. All these biochemical and structural changes were significantly (P < 0.05) corrected by LSEO co-administration. More importantly, malathion exposure remarkably (P < 0.05) down-regulated the expression of StAR gene as well as, the mRNA levels of P450scc, 3ßHSD and 17ß-HSD, while LSEO-administration strangely protected against steroidogenesis disruption.ConclusionsThe potential protective effects of LSEO against malathion-induced reprotoxicity and oxidative stress might be partially to its antioxidant properties as well as its opposite effect against some gene expression involved in the steroidogenesis.
Highlights
The current study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of Lavandula stoechas essential oils (LSEO) against malathion (M) exposure-caused reprotoxicity in male mice as well as the possible mechanisms implicated in such protection
This study aims to investigate the protective effect of Lavandula stoechas essential oils (LSEO) against all damages induced by this insecticide as well as the mechanisms involved in this protection
On the other hand, concerning the histomorphology of epididymis, we showed that malathion exposure caused a loss of sperm from the lumen of epididymis as well as the disintegration of basal membrane (Fig. 7b), whereas the co-treatment with LSEO restored the architecture of epididymis as evidenced by the accumulation of sperm in the centre of lumen and the regeneration of lining cells (Fig. 7c and d)
Summary
The current study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of Lavandula stoechas essential oils (LSEO) against malathion (M) exposure-caused reprotoxicity in male mice as well as the possible mechanisms implicated in such protection. In our earlier study, we have shown that continual exposure to malathion decreases testicular weight, serum testosterone level, sperm motility, and increases the percentage of dead and abnormal sperm in male mice [3, 4]. Various naturally occurring compounds are largely used to protect against reproductive damage and many pathways complications in both the experimental and medical situations. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) has established a program for the use of traditional herbal medicines in the treatment of diverse diseases difficulties and complications [7]
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