Abstract

Methoxychlor (MXC), an organochloride insecticide, is a potent toxicant-targeting female reproductive system and known to cause follicular atresia by inducing apoptosis within granulosa cells. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in apoptosis; thus, this study focuses on the ameliorative action of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on MXC-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis within granulosa cell of caprine ovary. Classic histology, fluorescence assay, and biochemical parameters were employed to evaluate the effect of varied concentration of NAC (1, 5, and 10 mM) on granulosa cell apoptosis after 24, 48, and 72 h exposure duration. Histomorphological studies revealed that NAC diminished the incidence of apoptotic attributes like condensed or marginated chromatin, pyknosis, crescent-shaped nucleus, empty cell spaces, and degenerated cellular structure along with the presence of cytoplasmic processes within granulosa cells in dose- and time-dependent manner. NAC significantly downregulated the percentage of MXC-induced granulosa cell apoptosis within healthy ovarian follicle with its increasing dose, maximum at 10 mM concentration. It also significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated the activity of antioxidant enzymes, namely catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-s-transferase, along with ferric reducing antioxidant power further declining lipid peroxidation in the MXC-treated caprine ovary. The results revealed a negative correlation between apoptosis frequency and antioxidant enzymes' activity (rCAT = -0.67, rSOD = -0.56, rGST = -0.31; p < 0.05) while a positive correlation was observed with lipid peroxidation (r = 0.63; p < 0.05) after NAC supplementation. Thus, NAC supplementation reduces the MXC-generated oxidative stress that perhaps declines the ROS generating signal transduction pathway of apoptosis, thereby preventing MXC-induced granulosa cell apoptosis and follicular atresia. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 156-166, 2017.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

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.