Effect of lycopene on testicular androgenic and anti‐oxidative enzymes in cyproterone acetate‐induced male infertile Wistar strain albino rats: An in vitro study

Abstract

Incidents of male infertility are mushrooming worldwide. Oxidative stress plays a prime role for its onset. Considering this background, the study was designed to focus the direct role of lycopene on cyproterone acetate (CPA) induced testicular hypofunction in rat. Four groups have been considered including the vehicle‐treated control, lycopene‐treated control, CPA‐treated and CPA+ lycopene‐treated groups. Androgenic, antioxidant and toxicity profiles were assessed. Results focused a nonsignificant (p > .05) difference in recovery of testicular Δ5, 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β‐HSD after direct exposure of lycopene compared to the CPA‐treated group. On other side, lycopene exposure to the testicular tissue of CPA‐treated rat (CPA+ lycopene‐treated) exhibited a significant (p < .05, p < .001) rectification in testicular catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, glutathione‐S‐transferase activities towards the vehicle‐ and lycopene‐treated control groups. Toxicity profile also showed a significant (p < .001) recovery in CPA‐treated group after direct exposure of lycopene towards the vehicle‐ and lycopene‐treated control groups. So, it can be concluded that direct exposure of lycopene may rectify the CPA‐induced testicular hypofunction either by its free radical‐quenching ability or by stimulating antioxidant enzyme activity without modulating androgenic key enzyme directly.

Lycopene improves testicular damage and sperm quality in experimentally induced varicocele: Relationship with apoptosis, hypoxia, and hyperthermia

“…Various studies have investigated the effects of lycopene on fertility in men and animals and showed promising results. They proposed that lycopene could protect sperm from OS by reducing the ROS level and increasing antioxidant enzymatic levels (Babaei, et al., 2021 ; Babaei, Moradi, et al., 2021 ; Durairajanayagam et al., 2014 ; Tripathy et al., 2020 ). They also explained that this performance of lycopene reduces sperm DNA fragmentation, LPO of the plasma membrane, and finally improves concentration, motility, viability, and morphology in the sperms of humans (Lu‐Lu & Zhi‐Gang, 2020 ; Williams et al., 2020 ) and animals (Babaei, Asadpour, et al., 2021 ; Babaei, Moradi, et al., 2021 ; Tripathy et al., 2020 ; Tvrda et al., 2017 ).…”

Lycopene protects sperm from oxidative stress in the experimental varicocele model

“…Our results clearly showed that lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, the level of catalase, and SOD improved in varicocele-treated rats with lycopene especially at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Tripathy et al (2020) investigated the direct role of lycopene on cyproterone acetate (CPA)-induced infertility in rat. They showed antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase, peroxidase, SOD, and GST were recovered after direct exposure of lycopene to the CPA-treated (CPA + lycopene-treated) infertile animals may be due to the potent antioxidant activity of lycopene either by rapid destruction of free radical (Tripathy et al, 2020).…”

“…( 2020 ) investigated the direct role of lycopene on cyproterone acetate (CPA)‐induced infertility in rat. They showed antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase, peroxidase, SOD, and GST were recovered after direct exposure of lycopene to the CPA‐treated (CPA + lycopene‐treated) infertile animals may be due to the potent antioxidant activity of lycopene either by rapid destruction of free radical (Tripathy et al., 2020 ).…”

“…The uneven distribution of lycopene indicates its biological role in the testes (Durairajanayagam et al., 2014 ). Several studies have shown that lycopene can protective sperm from OS by reducing ROS levels and increasing antioxidant enzyme levels (Durairajanayagam et al., 2014 ; Tripathy et al., 2020 ). They explained that this performance of lycopene reduces sperm DNA fragmentation and membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO) and finally improves concentration, motility, viability, and morphology in sperm of humans (Lu‐Lu & Zhi‐Gang, 2020 ; Williams et al., 2020 ) and animals (Tripathy et al., 2020 ; Tvrdá et al., 2016 ; Tvrda et al., 2017 ).…”

Advancements in Understanding and Enhancing Antioxidant-Mediated Sperm Cryopreservation in Small Ruminants: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Its lipophilic nature allows for its presence in various sources such as tomatoes, papayas, watermelons, apricots, pink grapefruits, and rosehips [ 10 , 57 ]. Numerous studies have demonstrated the potential effects of lycopene supplementation on seminal characteristics in humans [ 58 , 59 , 60 ], cattle [ 61 , 62 ], and rats [ 57 , 63 ]. In rams, Souza H.M. et al (2019) investigated the impact of lycopene supplementation in a Tris–egg yolk extender on various sperm parameters including sperm kinetics, plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity, intracellular ROS production, and lipid peroxidation of the plasma membrane post-freezing and thawing.…”