Paternal acrylamide exposure induces transgenerational effects on sperm parameters and learning capability in mice

The paternal contribution to shaping the health of future generations

Paternal health and exposure to adverse environments in the period prior to conception have a profound impact on future generations. Adversities such as stress, diet, and toxicants influence offspring health. Emerging evidence indicates that epigenetic mechanisms including noncoding RNA, DNA methylation, and chromatin remodelling mediate these effects. Preclinical studies have contributed to advancing mechanistic understanding in the field; however, human research is limited and primarily observational. Here, we discuss the evidence linking paternal to offspring health and advocate for further research in this area, which may ultimately inform policy and healthcare guidelines to improve paternal preconception health and offspring outcomes.

Zinc ameliorates acrylamide-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in testicular cells via Nrf2/HO-1/NfkB and Bax/Bcl2 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Acrylamide is a toxic substance formed in some foods that require high-temperature cooking processes and has been implicated as a gonadotoxic agent. Zinc, on the other hand, is a known antioxidant with fertility-enhancing properties. Hence, this study was designed to explore the possible ameliorative effect of zinc in acrylamide-induced gonadotoxicity.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into control, acrylamide (10 mg/kg of acrylamide), acrylamide + 1 mg/kg of zinc, and acrylamide + 3 mg/kg of zinc. The administration was via the oral route and lasted for 56 days.

RESULTS

Zinc treatment ameliorated acrylamide-impaired sperm quality, normal testicular histoarchitecture, and hormonal balance, which was accompanied by increased testicular malondialdehyde and interleukin-1β and decreased testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, zinc prevented acrylamide-induced downregulation of testicular nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCl2) expression and upregulation of testicular nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and bcl-2-like protein 4 (bax) expression.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, zinc may protect against acrylamide-induced testicular toxicity, mediated by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects.

Acrylamide Exposure Impairs Ovarian Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle and Reduces Oocyte Quality in Mouse

Acrylamide (AAM), a compound extensively utilized in various industrial applications, has been reported to induce toxic effects across multiple tissues in living organisms. Despite its widespread use, the impact of AAM on ovarian function and the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. Here, we established an AAM-exposed mouse toxicological model using 21 days of intragastric AAM administration. AAM exposure decreased ovarian coefficient and impaired follicle development. Further investigations revealed AAM would trigger apoptosis and disturb tricarboxylic acid cycle in ovarian tissue, thus affecting mitochondrial electron transport function. Moreover, AAM exposure decreased oocyte and embryo development potential, mechanically associated with pericentrin and phosphorylated Aurora A cluster failure, leading to meiotic spindle assembly defects. Collectively, these results suggest that AAM exposure may lead to apoptosis, glucose metabolic disorders, and mitochondrial dysfunction in ovary tissue, ultimately compromising oocyte quality.

The antioxidant protective effect of resveratrol on long-term exposure to acrylamide-induced skeletal toxicity in female mice

Background

Acrylamide (AA) is a toxic substance formed when cooking starch-based foods at high temperatures. Studies have shown that AA can cause neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and so on. However, there remains limited understanding of the potential skeletal toxicity of AA.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential skeletal toxicity of AA, as well as the potential bone protective effects of Resveratrol (RVT).

Methods

Based on the daily intake of adult women, adult female mice was treated with AA at 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/kg/d or AA/RVT (1 mg/kg/d AA +10 mg/kg/d RVT) for 8 weeks, and skeletal toxicity were evaluated by RT-qPCR and histopathological techniques.

Results

The results found that exposure to AA (0.1 or 1 mg/kg/d) after 8 weeks, osteogenesis exhibited pathological damage characteristics such as inhibition of growth plate function, and reduction of fibrous tissue, and cartilage exhibited pathological damage characteristics such as irregular cell morphology and arrangement, and damage to the tidal line. The results of cellular functional gene testing showed a decrease in the expression of functional genes in osteoblasts and chondrocytes. Meanwhile, after further co-treatment with AA (1 mg/kg/d) and resveratrol (RVT) (10 mg/kg/d), we found that RVT restored AA-induced damage to osteogenesis and cartilage, and reduced the high apoptosis and oxidative stress levels in osteogenesis/cartilage after AA exposure.

Conclusion

In summary, this study confirmed the skeletal toxicity of AA on female adult mice, and further clarified the antioxidant protective effect of RVT on this toxicity.

Production and Inhibition of Acrylamide during Coffee Processing: A Literature Review

Coffee is the third-largest beverage with wide-scale production. It is consumed by a large number of people worldwide. However, acrylamide (AA) is produced during coffee processing, which seriously affects its quality and safety. Coffee beans are rich in asparagine and carbohydrates, which are precursors of the Maillard reaction and AA. AA produced during coffee processing increases the risk of damage to the nervous system, immune system, and genetic makeup of humans. Here, we briefly introduce the formation and harmful effects of AA during coffee processing, with a focus on the research progress of technologies to control or reduce AA generation at different processing stages. Our study aims to provide different strategies for inhibiting AA formation during coffee processing and investigate related inhibition mechanisms.

Adolescence is a sensitive period for acrylamide-induced sex hormone disruption: Evidence from NHANES populations and experimental mice

Acrylamide (AA) is widely contaminated in environment and diet. However, the association of AA and sex hormones has rarely been investigated, especially in adolescents, a period of particular susceptibility to sex hormone disruption. In this study, survey-weighted multivariate linear regression models were conducted to determine the association between AA Hb biomarkers [HbAA and glycidamide (HbGA)] and sex hormones [total testosterone (TT) and estradiol (E₂)] in a total of 3268 subjects from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016 waves. Additionally, adult and pubertal mice were treated with AA to assess the effect of AA on sex hormones and to explore the potential mechanisms. Among all the subjects, significant negative patterns for HbGA and sex hormones were identified only in youths (6-19 years old), with the lowest β being - 0.53 (95% CI: -0.80 to -0.26) for TT in males and - 0.58 (95% CI: -0.93 to -0.23) for E₂ in females. Stratified analysis further revealed significant negative associations between HbGA and sex hormones in adolescents, with the lowest β being - 0.58 (95% CI: -1.02 to -0.14) for TT in males and - 0.54 (95% CI: -1.03 to -0.04) for E₂ in females, while there were no significant differences between children or late adolescents. In mice, the levels of TT and E₂ were dramatically reduced in AA-treated pubertal mice but not in adult mice. AA disturbed the expression of genes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, induced apoptosis of hypothalamus-produced gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus and reduced serum and hypothalamic GnRH levels in pubertal mice. Our study indicates AA could reduce TT and E₂ levels by injuring GnRH neurons and disrupting the HPG axis in puberty, which manifested as severe endocrine disruption on adolescents. Our findings reinforce the idea that adolescence is a vulnerable stage in AA-induced sex hormone disruption.

Acrylamide-induced meiotic arrest of spermatocytes in adolescent mice by triggering excessive DNA strand breaks: Potential therapeutic effects of resveratrol

Background: Baked carbohydrate-rich foods are the main source of acrylamide (AA) in the general population and are widely consumed by teenagers. Considering the crucial development of the reproductive system during puberty, the health risks posed by AA in adolescent males have raised public concern.Methods: In this study, we exposed 3-week-old male pubertal mice to AA for 4 weeks to evaluate its effect on spermatogenesis using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and historical analysis. Flow cytometric analysis and meiocyte spreading assay were conducted to assess meiosis in mice. The expression of meiosis-related proteins and double-strand break (DSB) proteins were evaluated by immunoblot analyses. Additionally, isolated spermatocytes were used to explore the role of resveratrol in AA-induced damages of meiosis.Results: Our results showed that AA decreased the testicular and epididymal indexes, reduced sperm count and motility, and induced morphological disruption of the testes in pubertal mice. Subsequent meiotic analysis revealed that AA increased the proportion of 4C spermatocytes and decreased the proportion of 1C spermatids. The expression levels of meiosis-related proteins (SYCP3, Cyclin A1 and CDK2) were downregulated, and signaling proteins (γH2AX, p-CHK2 and p-ATM) expression levels were upregulated in AA-treated mice testes. Similar expression patterns were observed in primary spermatocytes treated with AA and these effects were reversed significantly by resveratrol.Conclusions: Our results indicate that AA induces meiotic arrest via persistent activation of DSBs, which may contribute to AA-compromised spermatogenesis. Resveratrol could serve as a potential therapeutic agent against AA-induced meiotic toxicity. These data highlight the importance of natural product supplementation for treating AA-related reproductive toxicity.