Impact of Lycopene on Epididymal Androgen and Estrogen Receptors’ Expression in Polychlorinated Biphenyls–Exposed Rat

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the androgen (AR) and estrogen receptors' (ER) expression in epididymis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)-exposed rats. The rats were assigned to groups. Group I controls were treated with corn oil 80 µL/d intraperitoneally (ip), group II were treated with 2 mg/kg/d of A1254 ip; and group III were treated with 2 mg/kg/d of A1254 ip along with simultaneous oral supplementation of 4 mg/kg/d lycopene . The treatment was given daily for 30 days. After 24 hours of treatment, the rats were killed, and the epididymal regions (caput, corpus, and cauda) were dissected out, weighed, and prepared to estimate the levels of sialic acid, glyceryl phosphoryl choline (GPC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and lipid peroxidation (LPO). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of AR, ERα, and ERβ were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and ERα and ERβ protein expressions were analyzed by immunoblotting. The toxicity of PCBs was also confirmed by histology. There was a marked decrease in epididymal weight, sialic acid, and GPC levels, while oxidative stress markers H2O2 and LPO were increased in PCBs-treated rats. The mRNA and protein expression of AR, ERα, and ERβ were decreased in PCBs-treated groups, and the histology confirms the cytoplasmic damage in the regions of caput, corpus, and cauda in PCBs-treated rats. Simultaneous supplementation of lycopene to PCBs-exposed rats resulted in significant decrease in the oxidative stress markers as that of control, while the AR, ERα, and ERβ gene expressions were near to control. The results suggest that lycopene has ameliorative effect against PCBs-induced toxicity in epididymis.

Lactational exposure of polychlorinated biphenyls downregulates critical genes in Leydig cells of F1 male progeny (PND21)

“…In the present study, a significant reduction in body weight of PND21 F1 male offspring confirms the PCBs that interfere the body weight evidenced by our previous studies in adult exposed to Aroclor 1254 (Raj et al., ). The testes and accessory sex organ weight decreased data are in agreement with studies, indicating that adult male rat treated with Aroclor 1254 (Senthil kumar et al., ).…”

Lycopene protects against acute zearalenone-induced oxidative, endocrine, inflammatory and reproductive damages in male mice

“…Lycopene inhibits estrogen signaling of both 17 b-estradiol and genistein, and attenuates their deleterious effect in hormone-dependent malignancies [38]. Supplementation of lycopene to PCBs-exposed rats has been shown decrease the oxidative stress markers and ERa and ERb gene expression [39]. Thus, it is possible that administration of lycopene prevented the ZEA-mediated decrease in testosterone levels and number and motility of spermatozoa by a mechanism dependent of ER.…”

Lycopene and male infertility: do we know enough?

“…Lycopene, a lipid soluble carotenoid found in tomato-rich diets, is a powerful scavenger of free radicals preventing lipid peroxidation 4. Data suggest the beneficial effect of lycopene-rich diets on chronic disease states by upregulating gap-junction communication and modulation of growth factors 4.…”

“…Data suggest the beneficial effect of lycopene-rich diets on chronic disease states by upregulating gap-junction communication and modulation of growth factors 4. A recent publication suggested the protective effect of lycopene against polychlorinated biphenyl induced epididymal toxicity in a rat model 4.…”

“…Data suggest the beneficial effect of lycopene-rich diets on chronic disease states by upregulating gap-junction communication and modulation of growth factors 4. A recent publication suggested the protective effect of lycopene against polychlorinated biphenyl induced epididymal toxicity in a rat model 4. To study differences in the nutrient intake of men with normal semen parameters and those with low sperm numbers, motility or morphology, Mendiola et al 5.…”