Physiological Roles of Red Carrot Methanolic Extract and Vitamin E to Abrogate Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Challenge and Apoptosis in Rat Testes: Involvement of the Bax/Bcl-2 Ratio

Abstract

The precise analysis of the contents of the red carrot is still ambiguous and its role in the maintenance of male fertility needs to be further reconnoitered. Hence, this study targets the physiological impacts of either red carrot methanolic extract (RCME) or vitamin E (Vit. E), co-administrated with cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on rat testes, specifically those concerned with apoptosis and oxidative challenge. Four groups of adult male rats (n = 12) are used; control, CdCl2, CdCl2+Vit. E and CdCl2 + RCME. LC-MS analysis of RCME reveals the presence of 20 different phytochemical compounds. Our data clarify the deleterious effects of CdCl2 on testicular weights, semen quality, serum hormonal profile, oxidative markers and Bax/ Bcl-2 ratio. Histopathological changes in testicular, prostatic and semen vesicle glandular tissues are also observed. Interestingly, our data clearly demonstrate that co-administration of either RCME or Vit. E with CdCl2 significantly succeeded in the modulation (p < 0.05) of all of these negative effects. The most striking is that they were potent enough to modulate the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as having the ability to correct the impaired semen picture, oxidant status and hormonal profile. Thus, RCME and Vit. E could be used as effective prophylactic treatments to protect the male reproductive physiology against CdCl2 insult.

Impact of Electronic Cigarette Exposure on the Testes of Adult Male Albino Rat and the Role of Cessation: Histopathological and Biochemical study

“…Our results showed an increased Bax/Bcl2 ratio in the Ec group which is in favour of activated cellular apoptosis, and this ratio, unfortunately, was still significantly higher in the W group than that in the C group denoting incomplete recovery from the induced apoptotic status. Our results are in agreement with several studies that reported the increased Bax/Bcl2 ratio as an index of induced testicular apoptosis in response to cadmium exposure [59,60], one of the serious toxic ingredients of tobacco products; including E-cigs [61]. In the current study, seminiferous tubules of Ec rats demonstrated disruption of their cellular contents and peeling of germ cells with the development of cell fragments; same findings were also recorded by Mosbah et al [62], and El Golli et al [63], both explained that buildup of sloughed spermatogenic cells could be owing to Sertoli cells' failure to ingest desquamated germ cells in this context, our H&E results confirmed the foregoing by revealing giant cells in the seminiferous tubules of E-cigs exposed testes.…”

Vitamins A, C, and E Exert Anti-apoptotic Function in the Testis of Rats After Exposure to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

“…It was also determined that VE can modulate the impaired ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 in rats’ testis treated with cadmium chloride. 33 The results of these reports, together with our results, emphasize that VE can prevent testicular damage in the presence of harmful agents.…”

Prophylactic and Ameliorative Effects of PPAR-γ Agonist Pioglitazone in Improving Oxidative Stress, Germ Cell Apoptosis and Inflammation in Gentamycin-Induced Testicular Damage in Adult Male Albino Rats

“…Bouin’s contained formalin but also it contained citric acid and acetic acid which led to swelling of the cells, helping to counteract the shrinkage induced by formalin. Bouin’s provided an excellent cellular and nuclear morphology of germ and Sertoli cells [ 29 , 30 ].…”