Portulaca oleracea seeds’ extract alleviates acrylamide-induced testicular dysfunction by promoting oxidative status and steroidogenic pathway in rats

Abstract

Background Acrylamide (ACR) is a widespread industrial and food contaminant that garnered considerable attention for its carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and reproductive toxic effects. The antioxidant effects of Portulaca oleracea seeds extract (POS) and its fertility-enhancing effects were inspiring to evaluate the protective potential and pinpoint the mechanisms and molecular targets of the UPLC-MS fingerprinted POS extract on ACR-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into 6 equal groups of negative control, ACR model (10 mg/kg b.wt.), POS at doses of (200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt.) and POS-treated ACR groups. All treatments were given by oral dosing every day for 60 days. Results Administration of POS extract reversed the ACR-induced epididymides weight loss with improved semen quality and count, ameliorated the ACR-decreased testicular lesion scoring, testicular oxidative stress, testicular degeneration, Leydig cell apoptosis and the dysregulated PCNA and Caspase-3 expression in a dose-dependent manner. It upregulated the declined level of serum testosterone and the expression of steroidogenic genes such as CYP11A1 and 17β3-HSD with an obvious histologic improvement of the testes with re-establishment of the normal spermatogenic series, Sertoli and Leydig cells. Conclusions The supplementation with POS extract may provide a potential protective effect for ACR-induced testicular dysfunction which is mediated by its antioxidant, antiapoptotic and steroidogenic modulatory effects.

Silymarin abrogates acrylamide‐induced oxidative stress‐mediated testicular toxicity via modulation of antioxidant mechanism, DNA damage, endocrine deficit and sperm quality in rats

“…We observed that ACR exposure markedly reduced T, while LH and FSH prominently increased compared to control (Table 1). The hormonal dysregulation herein suggests adverse effect of ACR on testicular synthesis of T which has been reported in earlier publications (Abd‐Elsalam et al, 2021; Erdemli et al, 2019; Farag et al, 2021). However, the decreased T level implicates toxicity of ACR on T synthesis apparatus, including LH, FSH, 3β‐hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD) and 17β‐HSD in the Leydig cells (Sharma et al, 2018).…”

“…Acrylamide exposure is unavoidable due to global consumption of foods processed with high temperature (Farag et al, 2021). Acrylamide is formed during roasting, baking and frying; it is not basically formed in microwaved or boiled foods.…”

“…It is a germ cell mutagen and genotoxin that triggers damage to DNA in germ cells (Abd‐Elsalam et al, 2021; Nixon et al, 2012; Pourentezari et al, 2014). The study of Farag et al (2021) shows that ACR induces declined sperm quality, testicular degeneration, epididymis weight loss and aberrant steroidogenic signalling. Previous investigations on male rodents reveal varying degrees of reproductive and endocrine deficits provoked by ACR (Khalil et al, 2014; Wang et al, 2015; Yildizbayrak & Erkan, 2018).…”

Cordycepin, a major bioactive component ofCordyceps militaris, ameliorates diabetes‐induced testicular damage through the Sirt1/Foxo3a pathway

“…Oxidative stress and its related events seem to be a potential mechanism involved in diabetes‐induced testicular damage. Researchers have found that a variety of antioxidants reversed the deterioration of testicular Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells induced by oxidative stress (Farag et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2018; Khushboo et al, 2018; Zhou et al, 2020). Farag et al (2021) demonstrated that Portulaca oleracea seeds extract might provide a potential protective effect for acrylamide‐induced testicular dysfunction, mediated by its antioxidant effects.…”

“…Researchers have found that a variety of antioxidants reversed the deterioration of testicular Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells induced by oxidative stress (Farag et al, 2021; Jiang et al, 2018; Khushboo et al, 2018; Zhou et al, 2020). Farag et al (2021) demonstrated that Portulaca oleracea seeds extract might provide a potential protective effect for acrylamide‐induced testicular dysfunction, mediated by its antioxidant effects. These reports show that antioxidants can effectively reduce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic cells in the testis while also promoting the integrity of the blood‐testis barrier, which can be regarded as an effective treatment strategy to prevent diabetes‐induced testicular damage.…”