Displaying publications 21 - 31 of 31 in total

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  1. Nna VU, Ujah GA, Suleiman JB, Mohamed M, Nwokocha C, Akpan TJ, et al.
    Toxicology, 2020 08;441:152528.
    PMID: 32565124 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152528
    Cisplatin (Cis) is an effective chemotherapeutic intervention against many cancer types. However, the oxidative stress-related toxicities associated with cancer cell resistance-induced dose scaling has limited its long-term use. In the present study, we explored the benefits of the antioxidant, tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ; 50 mg/kg b.w./day, for 14 days) against Cis single dose injection (7 mg/kg b.w., i.p on Day 8), on testicular toxicity of male Wistar rats. Cis triggered testicular and epididymal oxidative stress, testicular inflammation (upregulated NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA levels, and downregulated IL-10 mRNA level), increased testicular apoptosis (increased Bax/Bcl2 and caspase-3 mRNA levels) and decreased testicular germ cells proliferation. Further, Cis decreased testicular steroidogenesis (decreased expression of StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD mRNA and proteins) and decreased follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels. Cis also decreased sperm count, motility, viability, normal morphology and Johnsen score. However, intervention with tBHQ significantly decreased oxidative stress by upregulating Nrf2 gene, suppressed inflammation, apoptosis and increased testicular germ cells proliferation. tBHQ also increased steroidogenesis and improved sperm parameters. Taken together, tBHQ improves steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in Cis-intoxicated rats by improving antioxidant status, dampening inflammation and apoptosis, thus improving the proliferative capacity of spermatogenic cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism
  2. Guerriero G, D'Errico G, Di Giaimo R, Rabbito D, Olanrewaju OS, Ciarcia G
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 Jul;25(19):18286-18296.
    PMID: 28936697 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0098-8
    Important toxicological achievements have been made during the last decades using reptiles. We focus our investigation on gonadal reproductive health of the soil biosentinel Podarcis sicula which is very sensitive to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The aim of this study is to quantitatively detect, by sensitive microassays, reactive oxygen species and the glutathione antioxidants in the testis and investigate if they are differentially expressed before and after remediation of a site of the "Land of Fires" (Campania, Italy) subject to illicit dumping of unknown material. The oxidative stress level was evaluated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy applying a spin-trapping procedure able to detect products of lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and repair by relative mobility shift, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase enzymatic activity, respectively, the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 transcript by real-time quantitative PCR analysis, the antioxidant glutathione S-transferase, a well-assessed pollution index, by enzymatic assay and the total soluble antioxidant capacity. Experimental evidences from the different techniques qualitatively agree, thus confirming the robustness of the combined experimental approach. Collected data, compared to those from a reference unpolluted site constitute evidence that the reproductive health of this lizard is impacted by pollution exposure. Remediation caused significant reduction of reactive oxygen species and downregulation of glutathione peroxidase 4 mRNAs in correspondence of reduced levels of glutathione S-transferase, increase of antioxidant capacity, and repair of DNA integrity. Taken together, our results indicate directions to define new screening approaches in remediation assessment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism*
  3. Suleiman JB, Abu Bakar AB, Noor MM, Nna VU, Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, et al.
    Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2021 Sep 01;321(3):E351-E366.
    PMID: 34229480 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00093.2021
    The pituitary-gonadal axis plays an important role in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, and by extension, fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of bee bread, a natural bee product, against obesity-induced decreases in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 200 and 300 g were divided into four groups (n = 8/group), namely: normal control (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD plus bee bread administered concurrently for 12 wk (HFD + B), HFD plus orlistat administered concurrently for 12 wk (HFD + O) groups. Bee bread (0.5 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg/day) was suspended in distilled water and given by oral gavage daily for 12 wk. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and adiponectin, as well as sperm count, motility, viability, normal morphology, and epididymal antioxidants decreased, whereas levels of leptin, malondialdehyde, and sperm nDNA fragmentation increased significantly in the HFD group relative to the NC group. There were significant decreases in the testicular mRNA transcript levels of androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 enzyme, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and 17β-HSD in the testes of the HFD group. Furthermore, mount, intromission and ejaculatory latencies increased, and penile cGMP level decreased significantly in the HFD group. Supplementation with bee bread significantly reduced leptin level and increased adiponectin level, enhanced sperm parameters and reduced sperm nDNA fragmentation, upregulated the levels of steroidogenic genes and proteins in HFD-induced obese male rats. Bee bread improved steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis by upregulating steroidogenic genes. Therefore, bee bread may be considered as a potential supplementation to protect against infertility in overweight men or men with obesity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The high-fat diet utilized in the present study induced obesity in the male rats. Bee bread supplementation mitigated impaired steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, mating behavior, and fertility potential by counteracting the downregulation of steroidogenic genes, thus increasing testosterone levels and suppressing epididymal oxidative stress. These benefits may be due to the abundance of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in bee bread.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism
  4. Suleiman JB, Nna VU, Zakaria Z, Othman ZA, Bakar ABA, Mohamed M
    Reprod Toxicol, 2020 08;95:113-122.
    PMID: 32450208 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.05.009
    Obesity has been reported to induce oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the testis. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the anti-obesity drug orlistat, on testicular oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Twenty-four adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were randomized into four groups (n = 6/group), namely; normal control (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD plus orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight/day administered concurrently for 12 weeks) (HFD + Opr) and HFD plus orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight/day administered 6 weeks after induction of obesity) (HFD + Ot) groups. Antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly decreased, while mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic markers (p53, Bax/BCl-2, caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3) were significantly increased in the testis of HFD group relative to NC group. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory markers (nuclear factor kappa B, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin (IL)-1β increased significantly, while anti-inflammatory marker (IL-10) decreased significantly in the testis of the HFD group relative to NC group. However, in both models of orlistat intervention (protective and treatment models) up-regulated antioxidant enzymes, down-regulated inflammation and apoptosis were observed in the testis of HFD-fed rats. Orlistat ameliorated testicular dysfunction by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in HFD-fed rats, suggesting its potential protective and therapeutic effects in the testis compromised by obesity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism
  5. Abushaala NM, Elfituri AM, Zulkifli SZ
    Open Vet J, 2021 02 08;11(1):112-120.
    PMID: 33898292 DOI: 10.4314/ovj.v11i1.17
    Background: Several types of research have been recently carried out on the biological effects of TBTs, including investigations of genitals in invertebrates in response to exposure to TBTs in marine water.

    Aim: The objective of this research was to investigate the acute effects of tributyltin chloride (TBTCl) on gonads in the adult stage of Artemia salina by use normal histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) (Caspase 3 and HSP70) to see specific apoptosis markers.

    Methods: After exposure of A. salina to different concentrations of TBTCl (25, 50, 100, 200, and 300 ng.l-1), 50 adult A. salina (25 male and 25 female) were selected randomly from each concentration to histologically study the gonads. The gonad tissue was sectioned (5 μm) and some slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and others were stained with IHC avidin-biotin complex, and were examined under a light microscope.

    Results: The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in histological lesions between different concentrations of TBTCl. The histological lesions in the testis and ovary section were undifferentiated cells, degenerating yolk globules, and follicle cells enveloping the oocyte which was then compared with control tissue, and these effects were found to be increased in females more than in males with the highest concentration of TBTCl. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed that positive immunostaining was observed in the testis and ovary as brownish deposits to Caspase 3 and HSP70 antibody after exposure to TBTCl, while the testis and ovary section in control tissue had no immunoreactivity to Caspase 3 and HSP70 antibody; these effects were profoundly increased with the highest concentration of TBTCl in females more than in males. Finally, the histological lesions and IHC (Caspase 3 and HSP70) revealed that the apoptosis and immune system stress of A. salina gonad tissue damage in females were more sensitive to TBTCl toxicity as compared to white males.

    Conclusion: In general, the present study aimed to observe the effects TBTCl on A. salina gonads by using histological sections and IHC (Caspase 3 and HSP70), which were evaluated for the first time and have been proven to possess an important function in apoptosis marker and immune system stress in Artemia. Finally, the specific mechanisms through which TBTCl affects A. salina Caspase 3 and HSP70 expression need further investigation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism
  6. Waiho K, Fazhan H, Shahreza MS, Moh JH, Noorbaiduri S, Wong LL, et al.
    PLoS One, 2017;12(1):e0171095.
    PMID: 28135340 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171095
    Adequate genetic information is essential for sustainable crustacean fisheries and aquaculture management. The commercially important orange mud crab, Scylla olivacea, is prevalent in Southeast Asia region and is highly sought after. Although it is a suitable aquaculture candidate, full domestication of this species is hampered by the lack of knowledge about the sexual maturation process and the molecular mechanisms behind it, especially in males. To date, data on its whole genome is yet to be reported for S. olivacea. The available transcriptome data published previously on this species focus primarily on females and the role of central nervous system in reproductive development. De novo transcriptome sequencing for the testes of S. olivacea from immature, maturing and mature stages were performed. A total of approximately 144 million high-quality reads were generated and de novo assembled into 160,569 transcripts with a total length of 142.2 Mb. Approximately 15-23% of the total assembled transcripts were annotated when compared to public protein sequence databases (i.e. UniProt database, Interpro database, Pfam database and Drosophila melanogaster protein database), and GO-categorised with GO Ontology terms. A total of 156,181 high-quality Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were mined from the transcriptome data of present study. Transcriptome comparison among the testes of different maturation stages revealed one gene (beta crystallin like gene) with the most significant differential expression-up-regulated in immature stage and down-regulated in maturing and mature stages. This was further validated by qRT-PCR. In conclusion, a comprehensive transcriptome of the testis of orange mud crabs from different maturation stages were obtained. This report provides an invaluable resource for enhancing our understanding of this species' genome structure and biology, as expressed and controlled by their gonads.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism*
  7. Md Mokhtar AH, Malik IA, Abd Aziz NAA, Almabhouh FA, Durairajanayagam D, Singh HJ
    Andrologia, 2019 Apr;51(3):e13196.
    PMID: 30456785 DOI: 10.1111/and.13196
    This study examined the effects of PI3K and AMPK signalling pathway inhibitors on leptin-induced adverse effects on rat spermatozoa. Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 14-16 weeks, were randomised into control, leptin-, leptin + dorsomorphin (AMPK inhibitor)-, and leptin+LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor)-treated groups with six rats per group. Leptin was given once daily for 14 days via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route at a dose of 60 ug kg-1 body weight. Rats in the leptin and inhibitor-treated groups received concurrently either dorsomorphin (5 mg kg-1  day-1 ) or LY294002 (1.2 mg kg-1  day-1 ) i.p. for 14 days. Controls received 0.1 ml of normal saline. Upon completion, sperm count, sperm morphology, seminiferous tubular epithelial height (STEH), seminiferous tubular diameter (STD), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and phospho-Akt/total Akt ratio were estimated. Data were analysed using ANOVA. Sperm count, STEH and STD were significantly lower, while the percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology and the level of 8-OHdG were significantly higher in rats treated with leptin and leptin + dorsomorphin when compared to those in controls and LY294002-treated rats. Testicular phospho-Akt/total Akt ratio was significantly higher in leptin and leptin + LY294002-treated rats. In conclusion, LY294002 prevents leptin-induced changes in rat sperm parameters, suggesting the potential role of the PI3K signalling pathway in the adverse effects of leptin on sperm parameters.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism
  8. Mohamed M, Sulaiman SA, Jaafar H, Sirajudeen KN
    Int J Mol Sci, 2011;12(9):5508-21.
    PMID: 22016605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12095508
    Cigarette smoke (CS) can cause testicular damage and we investigated the possible protective effect of honey against CS-induced testicular damage and oxidative stress in rats. CS exposure (8 min, 3 times daily) and honey supplementation (1.2 g/kg daily) were given for 13 weeks. Rats exposed to CS significantly had smaller seminiferous tubules diameter and epithelial height, lower Leydig cell count and increased percentage of tubules with germ cell loss. CS also produced increased lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, as well as reduced total antioxidant status (TAS) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). However, supplementation of honey significantly reduced histological changes and TBARS level, increased TAS level, as well as significantly restored activities of GPx, SOD and CAT in rat testis. These findings may suggest that honey has a protective effect against damage and oxidative stress induced by CS in rat testis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism
  9. Koriem KM, Fathi GE, Salem HA, Akram NH, Gamil SA
    Toxicol. Mech. Methods, 2013 May;23(4):263-72.
    PMID: 23193971 DOI: 10.3109/15376516.2012.748857
    Cadmium has been classified as an environmental pollutant and human carcinogen. Pectin is a family of complex polysaccharides that function as hydrating agents and cementing materials for the cellulosic network. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of pectin against cadmium-induced testicular toxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. Groups 1 and 2 were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) saline (1 mg/kg) and pectin (50 mg/kg), respectively, two days/weeks over three weeks period. Groups 3-5 were injected i.p. with 1 mg/kg cadmium two days/week while groups 4 and 5 co-administrated i.p. with 25 and 50 mg/kg pectin, respectively, three days/week over three weeks period. The results of the present work revealed that cadmium-exposed rats showed decrease in serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and lactate dehydrogenase. Testicular cholesterol, total protein, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and reduced glutathione levels were also decreased while testicular malondialdehyde level was increased after cadmium injection. On the other hand, serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, sex hormone binding globulin and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were increased after cadmium exposure. Cadmium also induced sperms loss. Co-administration of pectin with cadmium restores all the above parameters and sperms to the normal levels where pectin at higher dose was more effective than lower one. These results were supported by histochemical investigations. In conclusion, pectin can counteract the testicular toxicity and oxidative stress induced by cadmium and the effect was dose-dependent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism
  10. Nna VU, Abu Bakar AB, Ahmad A, Mohamed M
    Arch Physiol Biochem, 2021 Feb;127(1):51-60.
    PMID: 31072137 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2019.1610778
    CONTEXT: Lactate is the preferred energy substrate for developing testicular germ cells. Diabetes is associated with impaired testicular lactate transport/utilisation, and poor sexual behaviour.

    OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of metformin on parameters involved in testicular lactate production, transport/utilisation, and sexual behaviour in diabetic state.

    METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), and metformin-treated diabetic group (n = 6/group). Metformin (300 mg/kg b.w./day) was administrated orally for 4 weeks.

    RESULTS: Intra-testicular glucose and lactate levels, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased, while the mRNA transcript levels of genes responsible for testicular glucose and lactate transport/utilisation (glucose transporter 3, monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), MCT2, and LDH type C) decreased in DC group. Furthermore, penile nitric oxide increased, while cyclic guanosine monophosphate decreased, with impaired sexual behaviour in DC group. Treatment with metformin improved these parameters.

    CONCLUSIONS: Metformin increases testicular lactate transport/utilisation and improves sexual behaviour in diabetic state.

    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism*
  11. Ujah GA, Nna VU, Agah MI, Omue LO, Leku CB, Osim EE
    Andrologia, 2018 Mar;50(2).
    PMID: 28703286 DOI: 10.1111/and.12866
    Cadmium chloride (CdCl2 ) has been reported to cause reproductive toxicity in male rats, mainly through oxidative stress. This study examined its effect on sexual behaviour, as one of the mechanisms of reproductive dysfunction, as well as the possible ameliorative effect of quercetin (QE) on same. Thirty male Wistar rats (10 weeks old), weighing 270-300 g, were used for this study. They were either orally administered 2% DMSO, CdCl2 (5 mg/kg b.w.), QE (20 mg/kg b.w.) or CdCl2 +QE, once daily for 4 weeks, before sexual behavioural studies. The 5th group received CdCl2 for 4 weeks and allowed 4-week recovery period, before sexual behavioural test. Rats were sacrificed after sexual behavioural studies. The blood, testis and penis were collected for biochemical assays. Cadmium increased mount, intromission and ejaculatory latencies, but reduced their frequencies, compared to control. Serum nitric oxide increased, while penile cyclic guanosine monophosphate reduced in the CdCl2 -exposed rats, compared to control. CdCl2 increased testicular cholesterol, but reduced 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17β-HSD activities, and testosterone concentration. QE better attenuated these negative changes compared to withdrawal of CdCl2 treatment. In conclusion, CdCl2 suppressed steroidogenesis, penile erection and sexual behaviour, with poor reversal following withdrawal, while QE attenuated these effects.
    Matched MeSH terms: Testis/metabolism*
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