The potential cytoprotective effect of Vitamin C and Vitamin E on monosodium glutamate-induced testicular toxicity in rats

Cell protective effects of vitamin C against oxidative stress induced by ciprofloxacin on spermatogenesis: involvement of cellular apoptosis

Introduction

Ciprofloxacin (CPFX), a second-generation fluoroquinolone, is widely used as an anti-infective agent for genitourinary tract infections due to its broad-spectrum efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Although CPFX is considered safe at therapeutic doses, recent evidence suggests its potential biological toxicity, particularly affecting testicular histology and function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CPFX on testicular structure and function and to evaluate the protective role of vitamin C.

Methods

Forty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups: control, CPFX-treated, vitamin C-treated, and CPFX combined with vitamin C-treated. After 60 days of treatment, blood samples were collected for hormonal assays, while testicular and epididymal tissues were analyzed using light and electron microscopy. Oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, were assessed. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software.

Results

Confocal microscopy of the CPFX-treated group revealed significant reductions in germ cell populations within seminiferous tubules, accompanied by severe apoptosis and degenerative epithelial changes. Morphometric analysis confirmed a decrease in tubular diameter and epithelial height, degeneration of spermatogenic cells, and detachment of apoptotic cells from the basement membrane. CPFX treatment significantly reduced testosterone levels and induced variable changes in gonadotropin hormones (LH and FSH). Co-administration of vitamin C with CPFX restored normal testicular morphology, preserving seminiferous tubule integrity and maintaining spermatogenic cell populations and spermatozoa within the lumen.

Discussion and Conclusion

Vitamin C supplementation effectively mitigated CPFX-induced oxidative stress by significantly reducing MDA levels and enhancing antioxidant defenses, including increased GSH content and CAT enzyme activity. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of vitamin C in reversing CPFX-induced testicular toxicity by alleviating oxidative stress and restoring testicular function.

Disruptive consequences of monosodium glutamate on male reproductive function: A review

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most extensively used flavour enhancers worldwide. Although it is widely regarded as a safe food additive with no recommended daily dosage, its over-consumption has been associated with notably pathophysiological events in various tissues and organs of the body. Previous studies have reported of the neuro- cardio- and hepato- toxic effects of its excessive exposure. Moreover, the food additive instigates metabolic dysfunction. It has been established that MSG damages male reproductive accessory organs like prostate glands and epididymis. In addition, it impairs serum enzymatic activities and serum levels of testosterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone and cholesterol. Reduced sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, and sperm viability, imbalances in male reproductive hormones, alongside alteration in the histoarchitecture of the testes and other male reproductive tissues have also been connected with excessive exposure to MSG. Literature reports affirm the link between the over-consumption of MSG and reproductive organ weight and male sexual behaviour. This review article addresses the multi-systemic effects of exposure to MSG and the possible mechanism of action of the compound with a focus on the negative implications of the food additive on male reproductive functions and the possible role of natural antioxidants in male reproductive functions. carefully selected keywords were used during the literature search to gather credible and up-to-date information about the subject matter.

Protective roles of vitamin C and 5-aminosalicylic acid on reproduction in acrylamide intoxicated male mice

Context

Serious health risks have been connected to ongoing, escalating exposure to environmental toxins and one of them is acrylamide (ACR), an organic compound. Although there are many published reports on ACR toxicity, limited information is available regarding the use of two potential antioxidants against ACR-instigated reproductive toxicity.

Aims

The study focused on investigating the protective effects of vitamin C and 5-ASA against ACR-incited reproductive toxicity.

Methods

A total of 50 male mice aged 4 weeks old were treated for 90 days with different concentrations either of ACR or ACR and vitamin C or ACR and 5- ASA or ACR, vitamin C, and 5- ASA.

Key results

ACR significantly reduced serum testosterone level (p = 0.0037), sperm concentration (p = 0.0004), and percentage of sperm motility (p = 0.003), as well as increased sperm abnormality; head (p = 0.0058), tail (p = 0.001), and midpiece (p = 0.0339). Besides, the weight (p = 0.0006) and length (p = 0.0105) of testes, as well as weight (p = 0.0001) and length (p = 0.0021) of epididymis were decreased along with atrophy of seminiferous tubules of the testis, and disintegration of the tubular epithelium of epididymis on ACR exposed mice which were improved by vitamin C and 5-ASA administration.

Conclusions

Vitamin C and 5-ASA can potentially mitigate the negative effects of ACR on male reproduction; however, combined application is recommended for better performance.

Implications

In Bangladesh, this work is anticipated to address the health benefits of vitamin C and 5-ASA, particularly in improving the reproductive health of males against ACR toxicity.

Testicular Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles on Monosodium Glutamate Induced Alteration in Male Albino Rats

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The flavor enhancer Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is mostly utilized in Asian and West African cuisines, especially in West African and Asian dishes. However, due to its availability, largely without labeling, in many food products, unintentional overuse of this food additive may occur. The objective of this study was to find out how selenium nanoparticles affected the toxicity of MSG in male albino rats' testicles. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> As 35 Wistar male rats partitioned into 5 groups: G1: Control rats, G2: Received Se-NPs at 0.4 mg kg¹ b.wt., orally, G3: Injected with MSG at a daily dose of 4 g kg¹ b.wt., intraperitoneally (IP), G4: Ingested a daily oral dose of Se-NPs for 7 successive days and on the 7th day, received the first dose of MSG IP 4 g kg¹ b.wt., then received both treatments till the end of the study and G5: Administered a daily oral dose of 4 g kg¹ MSG, followed by Se-NPs at a daily dose of 0.4 mg kg¹ b.wt., the experiment continued for 28 days. Serum testosterone hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), the levels of serum lipid peroxidation (MDA), reduced Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) were estimated and samples from testis were separated for histological analysis. <b>Results:</b> The MSG treatment induced a significant decline in the values of serum testosterone, FSH, LH, GSH, GSH-Px and SOD. It also increased the values of serum MDA and LDH and spermatic arrest. While, the administration of Se-NPs orally before MSG treatment resulted in a decline in the values of serum MDA and LDH, an elevation in the values of serum GSH, GSH-PX and SOD, testosterone, FSH, LH and reappearance of sperm. <b>Conclusion:</b> The use of Se-NPs as a protector exhibited more improvement in values of estimated hormones and oxidative stress markers than using it as a therapy.

MONOSODYUM GLUTAMAT, LEZZET ARTTIRICI MI, ÖLDÜREN LEZZET Mİ?

Monosodium glutamat (MSG) 1800’lü yıllardan beri lezzet artırıcı katkı maddesi olarak, işlenmiş ve paketlenmiş tuzlu veya tatlı gıdalarda kullanılmaktadır. Yapılan birçok çalışma MSG kullanımının çok sayıda yapısal ve fonksiyonel bozukluklara yol açabileceğini ortaya çıkarmıştır. Son yıllarda MSG kullanımının çok artması gıda güvenliği konusunda endişelerinde artmasına neden olmuştur.