Modulatory effects of lipoic acid and selenium against cadmium‐induced biochemical alterations in testicular steroidogenesis

Abstract

Exposure to toxic metals including cadmium has become an increasingly recognized source of illness worldwide. Cadmium (Cd(2+) ) is one of the environmental pollutants affecting various tissues and organs including testis. The protective effect of lipoic acid and selenium on Cd(2+) -induced testicular damage was investigated. Accordingly, male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups (n = 8; each). Gp I: (control), whereas the other 3 groups received CdCl(2) (2 mg/kg, i.p. for 28 days) alone or in combination with either (i) lipoic acid (35 mg/kg, p.o) or (ii) selenium (0.35 mg/kg, p.o) throughout the experiment. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels significantly decreased in the Cd(2+) -exposed rats. The activities of testicular key androgenic enzymes, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17 β-HSD significantly decreased in Cd(2) exposed rats compared to the control counterparts. In addition, the activities of testicular marker enzymes were significantly altered in cadmium-treated animals. Significant reductions in body and testicular weight as well as antioxidant status were also observed in Cd(2+) -exposed rats. Moreover, some testicular metal levels were altered. Lipoic acid and selenium significantly increased serum testosterone level and restored testicular activity of 3β-HSD and 17 β-HSD and were effective in modulation of most of the measured biochemical parameters. The biochemical parameters were further confirmed with histopathological findings. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the beneficial influences of lipoic acid and selenium in reducing harmful effects of Cd(2+) in rats' testes.

Histoloical and Biochemichal Study on the Toxic Effects of Bisphenol A on the Thyroid Gland of Adult Male Albino Rats and the Possible Protection by Selenium

“…In harmony with the current findings, it was documented that selenium reduced the oxidative stress, endocrine disorder and apoptosis in the rat testes [85,86] . It was declared that the mechanism of chemoprotection of selenium may be related to its properties as antioxidant besides its ability to hinder with pathways of DNA repair [87] .…”

Effect of Selenium on Carbimazole-Induced Histopathological and Histochemical Alterations in Prostate of Albino Rats

“…Grotto et al [39] reported that in rats chronically exposed to low levels of methylmercury, selenium co-administration showed a significant reduction in methylmercury-induced genotoxicity, reestablished glutathione peroxidase activity and reduced and Histochemical Alterations in Prostate of Albino Rats DNA damage. Selenium reduced the cadmium induced histopathological changes in testes of rat, oxidative stress, endocrine disorder and apoptosis [40,41]. On the contrary, Adesiyan et al [42] reported that selenium had no protective effects against atrazine-induced biochemical alterations in testis and epididymis except testicular lactate dehydrogenase.…”

Zinc and multi-mineral supplementation should mitigate the pathogenic impact of cadmium exposure

“…Activation of NADPH oxidase, as well as mitochondrial damage, is believed to play a role in Cd-induced oxidative stress [19,43,87,88]. Other nutraceutical antioxidants, such as astaxanthin, lipoic acid, melatonin, Nacetylcysteine, and phase II inducers, may likewise have potential for mitigating Cd's pathogenic impact [89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99] -though it should be acknowledged that oxidative stress is unlikely to be the only mechanism mediating Cd's adverse effects. The researchers who reported high Cd levels in vegans, also note that whole plant-based foods tend to rich in phytochemical antioxidants which might to some degree offset the toxic impact of Cd [46].…”