Histopathological and biochemical comparisons of the protective effects of amifostine and l -carnitine against radiation-induced acute testicular toxicity in rats

Logistic role of carnitine shuttle system on radiation-induced L-carnitine and acylcarnitines alteration

PURPOSE

With the development of radiation metabolomics, a large number of radiation-related metabolic biomarkers have been identified and validated. The L-carnitine and acylcarnitines have the potential to be the new promising candidate indicators of radiation exposure. This review summarizes the effect of carnitine shuttle system on the profile of acylcarnitines and correlates the radiation effects on upstream regulators of carnitine shuttle system with the change characteristics of L-carnitine and acylcarnitines after irradiation across different animal models as well as a few humans.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies report that acylcarnitines were ubiquitously elevated after irradiation, especially the free L-carnitine and short-chain acylcarnitines (C2-C5). However, the molecular mechanism underlying acylcarnitine alterations after irradiation is not fully investigated, and further studies are needed to explore the biological effect and its mechanism. The activity of the carnitine shuttle system plays a key role in the alteration of L-carnitine and acylcarnitines, and the upstream regulators of the system are known to be affected by irradiation. These evidences indicate that that there is a logistic role of carnitine shuttle system on radiation-induced L-carnitine and acylcarnitines alteration.

The role of amifostine in preventing radiotherapy induced testicular tissue damage in rats

The germinal epithelium of the adult testis is susceptible to radiation induced damage. Amifostine is a drug used to prevent the side effects of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy. We investigated the protective role of amifostine against RT induced damage to rat testis using the TUNEL assay. We used adult male rats divided equally into four groups: untreated control group; amifostine group, 200 mg/kg amifostine/day for 3 days; RT-saline group, 2 Gy/day local irradiation of testes for 3 days; RT-amifostine group, 2 Gy/day local irradiation of testes for 3 days plus 200 mg/kg amifostine 30 min before each irradiation. Four weeks after treatment, rats were sacrificed for histological examination and apoptosis was assessed using the TUNEL method. The TUNEL staining density was obtained by evaluating separate seminiferous tubules selected randomly from each section using the stereological fractionator method. Apoptosis in the seminiferous tubules in the control group and amifostine groups were evaluated as spontaneous. Frequent apoptosis was observed in the RT-saline group; a statistically significant difference was observed between the RT treated and untreated groups. Administration of amifostine 30 min before RT protected the testicular germ cells against apoptosis.

L-carnitine extenuates endocrine disruption, inflammatory burst and oxidative stress in carbendazim-challenged male rats via upregulation of testicular StAR and FABP9, and downregulation of P38-MAPK pathways

We have addressed in the current study the potential of L-carnitine (LC) to extenuate the reproductive toxic insults of carbendazim (CBZ) in male rats, and the molecular mechanisms whereby carnitine would modify the spermatogenic and steroidogenic derangements invoked by the endocrine disruptor. Herein, animals received daily doses of carbendazim (100 mg/kg) by gavage for 8 weeks. Another CBZ-challenged group was co-supplemented with LC (500 mg/kg, IP) twice weekly for 8 weeks. Sperm quantity and quality (morphology, motility and viability), serum testosterone and gonadotropins, and thyroid hormone levels were assessed. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations were determined by ELISA. Oxidant/antioxidant status in rat testis was investigated via measuring testicular contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Immunohistochemical localizations of the junctional protein; occludin, and inflammatory markers; inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) were further analyzed. A host of transduction genes that regulate spermatogenic and steroidogenic pathways, and their encoded proteins namely, Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein (StAR), Fatty acid binding protein 9 (FABP9) and P38-mitogen activated protein kinase (P38-MAPK) were assessed by real time quantitative (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. LC improved rat spermiogram, testicular histological alterations and endocrine perturbances, and modulated genes' expressions and their respective proteins. In conclusion, LC effects appear to reside for the most part on its endocrine-preserving, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties through a myriad of interlaced signal transductions that ultimately recapitulated its beneficial effects on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis.

Radiation-induced intestinal damage: latest molecular and clinical developments

Aim: To systematically review the prophylactic and therapeutic interventions for reducing the incidence or severity of intestinal symptoms among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Materials & methods: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using various search terms, including 'radiation enteritis', 'radiation enteropathy', 'radiation-induced intestinal disease', 'radiation-induced intestinal damage' and 'radiation mucositis'. The search was limited to in vivo studies, clinical trials and meta-analyses published in English with no limitation on publication date. Other relevant literature was identified based on the reference lists of selected studies. Results: The pathogenesis of acute and chronic radiation-induced intestinal damage as well as the prevention and treatment approaches were reviewed. Conclusion: There is inadequate evidence to strongly support the use of a particular strategy to reduce radiation-induced intestinal damage. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are required for interventions with limited evidence suggestive of potential benefits.

Coenzyme Q10 mitigates ionizing radiation-induced testicular damage in rats through inhibition of oxidative stress and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic cell death

Radiotherapy is a common treatment modality for cancer patients; however, its use is limited by decreasing the probability of fertility in male cancer survivors. Therefore, this study aimed to define the capability of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a potent stimulator of mitochondrial function, in attenuating ionizing radiation (IR)-induced spermatogenesis impairments. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to a single dose of ϒ-rays (10 Gy) and/or treated with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg, orally, for 2 consecutive weeks). IR mediated irregular seminiferous tubules, which were emerged with typical morphological characteristics of apoptosis, and nuclear condensation, while CoQ10 significantly preserved the testicular structure and maintained spermatogenesis, which was displayed by higher levels of serum estradiol and testosterone. CoQ10 remarkably augmented sperm count, motility, and viability while diminished the rate of sperm-defects relatively to their counterparts after IR exposure. CoQ10 modulations in reproductive parameters were underpinned by attenuating IR-induced oxidative stress as evidenced by decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase activities, and glutathione level. Supporting the involvement of CoQ10 in the anti-apoptotic response, the reduced mRNA expression levels of p53, Puma, and Bax accompanied by the increased Bcl-2 mRNA expression were observed. Subsequently, CoQ10 ameliorated the mitochondria dependent apoptotic pathway through diminishing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 protein expression, and DNA fragmentation in testes of irradiated rats. Taken together, our findings showed that CoQ10 conserved against IR-induced steroidogenesis disruption through subsiding mitochondria-mediated oxidative stress injury in germinal cells.

The protective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor against cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis via oxidative stress and inflammation

AIMS

Sepsis is a severe public health problem affecting millions of individuals, with global mortality rates caused by lower respiratory tract infections are approximately 2.38 million people a year die from respiratory failure caused by infection. Although ACE is known to contribute to damage in septicemia, the pathophysiological mechanisms of sepsis remain unclear. While mortality can be significantly reduced through effective and sensitive antibiotic therapy, antibiotic resistance restricts the use of these drugs, and the investigation of novel agents and targets is therefore essential. Our aim was to determine whether Perindopril (PER) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capable of preventing these adverse conditions resulting in injury in previous studies.

MAIN METHODS

Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into the control group, received oral saline solution alone for four days. the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group, underwent only cecal ligation and puncture induced sepsis, while the CLP + PER (2 mg/kg) underwent cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis together with oral administration of 2 mg/kg PER for four days before induction of sepsis.

KEY FINDINGS

Malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kβ/p65) levels increased in the CLP group. On the other hand, PER (2 mg/kg) oral administration to septic rats decreased MDA, TNF-α and increase glutathione (GSH) in the lung tissue. In addition, PER administration also decreased the lung tissue NF-κB and Caspase-3 immunopositivity against sepsis.

SIGNIFICANCE

PER treatment may represent a promising means of preventing sepsis-induced lung injury via antioxidant and anti-inflammation effects.

An investigation of the effects of metformin on ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Damage to the ovaries or tissue torsion can significantly reduce the ovarian reserve and thus cause severe gynecological and hormonal deficiencies. The discovery of new agents is always needed in the treatment of this condition. Metformin (MET) has been shown to be beneficial in attenuating ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury. Fifty-six female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into seven groups. Group 1 represented the control group (C), Group 2, the ischemia group (I), and Group 3, the ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R). Group 4, the ischemia (I)+250 group, and Group 5, the ischemia (I)+500 group, received 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg MET, respectively. Group 6, the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)+250 group, and Group 7, the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)+500 group, received 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg MET, respectively. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in ovarian tissue increased following I/R, while estradiol (E₂) levels decreased. Moreover, infiltration and diffuse edematous areas were observed in addition to diffuse vascular congestion and hemorrhage findings. Caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κβ) expression levels also increased. MDA and TNF-α concentrations decreased in the MET treatment groups, while GSH and E₂ levels increased. The findings showed that I/R causes ovarian damage through the induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. However, MET application was effective in preventing damage in ovarian tissue by reducing levels of reactive oxygen species, proinflammatory cytokines, caspase-3 and NF-κβ.

Effects of Co-Administration of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells and L-Carnitine on The Recovery of Damaged Ovaries by Performing Chemotherapy Model in Rat

Background

L-carnitine (Lc) as a type of flavonoid antioxidants and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) as a type of mesenchymal stem cells may recover damaged ovaries. It seems that Lc has favorable effects on differentiation, increasing lifespan and decreasing apoptosis in BMSCs. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of co-administration of BMSC+Lc on damaged ovaries after creating a chemotherapy model with cyclophosphamide in rats.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, cyclophosphamide was intraperitoneally (IP) injected to forty female wistar rats for 14 days, in terms of chemotherapy-induced ovarian destruction. The rats were then randomly divided into four groups: control, Lc, BMSCs and co-administration of BMSC+Lc. Injection of BMSCs into bilateral ovaries and intraperitoneal injection of Lc were performed individually and together. Four weeks later, levels of serum estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, number of ovarian follicles at different stages using hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining and expression of ovarian Bcl-2 and Bax proteins using western blot were assessed.

Results

Co-administration of BMSC+Lc increased E2 and decreased FSH levels compared to the control group (P<0.001). The number of follicles was higher in the co-administrated group compared to the control group (P<0.001). Co-administration of BMSC+Lc increased Bcl-2 protein level, decreased Bax protein level and increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P<0.001).

Conclusion

The effect of co-administration of BMSC+Lc is probably more effective than the effect of their separate administration on the recovery of damaged ovaries by chemotherapy.

Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy on Spermatogenesis: The Role of Testicular Immunology

Substantial improvements in cancer treatment have resulted in longer survival and increased quality of life in cancer survivors with minimized long-term toxicity. However, infertility and gonadal dysfunction continue to be recognized as adverse effects of anticancer therapy. In particular, alkylating agents and irradiation induce testicular damage that results in prolonged azoospermia. Although damage to and recovery of spermatogenesis after cancer treatment have been extensively studied, there is little information regarding the role of differences in testicular immunology in cancer treatment-induced male infertility. In this review, we briefly summarize available rodent and human data on immunological differences in chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Cancer treatment in childhood and testicular function: the importance of the somatic environment

Testicular function and future fertility may be affected by cancer treatment during childhood. Whilst survival of the germ (stem) cells is critical for ensuring the potential for fertility in these patients, the somatic cell populations also play a crucial role in providing a suitable environment to support germ cell maintenance and subsequent development. Regulation of the spermatogonial germ-stem cell niche involves many signalling pathways with hormonal influence from the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. In this review, we describe the somatic cell populations that comprise the testicular germ-stem cell niche in humans and how they may be affected by cancer treatment during childhood. We also discuss the experimental models that may be utilized to manipulate the somatic environment and report the results of studies that investigate the potential role of somatic cells in the protection of the germ cells in the testis from cancer treatment.