Rhamnetin alleviates polystyrene microplastics-induced testicular damage by restoring biochemical, steroidogenic, hormonal, apoptotic, inflammatory, spermatogenic and histological profile in male albino rats

Abstract

The current research was performed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of Rhamnetin (RHM) on polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs)-instigated testicular dysfunction in male albino rats. 48 albino rats were distributed in four groups, i.e., control, PS-MPs treated, PS-MPs + RHM co-treated and RHM only supplemented group. PS-MPs exposure considerably reduced anti-oxidant enzymes i.e., catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GPx) activities. Whereas, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level along with malondialdehyde (MDA) was considerably escalated in PS-MPs treated rats as well as a potential decline was observed in sperm progressive motility. Additionally, a substantial upsurge was noticed in the count of dead sperms, deformity in the tail, mid-piece and head of sperms in PS-MPs treated rats. PS-MPs exposure also decreased steroidogenic enzymes, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) expressions. Moreover, the levels of inflammatory indices i.e., Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity were also increased in PS-MPs administrated group. Besides it increased the expression of apoptotic markers (Bax and caspase-3) expression. Whereas, anti-apoptotic marker i.e., Bcl-2 expression was reduced. Moreover, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as well as plasma testosterone levels were also decreased. PS-MPs exposure also led to a substantial histopathological damage in testicular tissues. However, RHM supplementation potentially reduced the damaging effects of PS-MPs in the reproductive tissues of male albino rats. Thus, the current study revealed, RHM possesses potential to prevent PS-MPs-induced testicular damage due to its anti-oxidant anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory as well as androgenic properties.

Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics altered the hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis role in hormonal regulation, inducing reproductive toxicity in albino rats

“…A previous study of PS-MPs orally administrated to rats supported our findings, which showed histopathological changes and morphometric alternations in exposed testis (Ijaz et al, 2021). Additionally, this histopathological alternation has been reported in a recent study of orally administrated PS-MPs in rats (Hamza et al, 2023).…”

Efeitos da exposição a microplásticos e nanoplásticos no sistema endócrino: uma revisão de literatura

“…Em relação aos marcadores apoptóticos, houve um aumento na expressão de Bax e Caspase-3, enquanto observou-se uma diminuição nos marcadores anti-apoptóticos, como Bcl-2. Além disso, foi observada uma diminuição do hormônio luteinizante e do hormônio folículo-estimulante, bem como os níveis plasmáticos de testosterona (HAMZA et al, 2023;IJAZ et al, 2023;SARASAMMA et al, 2020). (FENG et al, 2022;LI et al, 2022).…”

Rhamnazin ameliorates 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-evoked testicular toxicity by restoring biochemical, spermatogenic and histological profile in male albino rats

“…Spermatogenesis is a cascade of events that is regulated under the influence of hormones of hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis (HPG). [56][57][58] Hypothalamus discharges the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that instigates the liberation of FSH and LH (gonadotropins), which are crucial for reproduction. FSH is responsible for the proper functioning of Sertoli cells (SCs) that make and discharge regulatory molecules and nutrients required for spermatogenesis.…”