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Nazanin M, Razi M, Tolouei-Azar J. Effect of running exercise training on inflammatory mediators and cytokines expression in testicular tissue; effect of exercise intensity. Life Sci 2024; 339:122397. [PMID: 38185243 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of running exercise training protocols (ETPs) with varying intensities on inflammatory responses, with a specific focus on the interactions between inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and Leydig cell steroidogenic activity, as well as testosterone secretion. To this end, 24 Wistar rats were subdivided into sedentary control, low (LICT), moderate (MICT), and high (HICT) intensity continuous running ETP groups. After 8 weeks, the expression levels of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-KB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the testicular nitric oxide (NO) content were assessed and compared between groups. Moreover, the mean distributions of Leydig cells/mm2 of interstitial connective tissue, their steroidogenic activity, and serum level of testosterone were assessed. The LICT did not show any significant (p > 0.05) change in the expression levels of all aforementioned biomarkers. In contrast, both the MICT and HICT groups demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the expression levels of TLR-4, NFK-B, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. The testicular NO has increased in HICT and MICT groups. Despite a decrease in the distribution of Leydig cells in both the MICT and HICT groups, the HICT group exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in Leydig cell steroidogenic activity and serum testosterone levels. In conclusion, our findings revealed that ETPs can influence Leydig cell steroidogenic activity and testosterone secretion, contingent on their intensity. These effects are attributed to alterations in the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mozaffari Nazanin
- Department of Exercise Physiology and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Mazdak Razi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Javad Tolouei-Azar
- Department of Exercise Physiology and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Urmia University, Daneshgah Blv, Urmia, Iran
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Silva JV, Santiago J, Matos B, Henriques MC, Patrício D, Martins AD, Duarte JA, Ferreira R, Alves MG, Oliveira P, Oliveira PF, Fardilha M. Effects of Age and Lifelong Moderate-Intensity Exercise Training on Rats' Testicular Function. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911619. [PMID: 36232916 PMCID: PMC9570257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with testicular morphological and functional alterations, but the underlying molecular mechanisms and the impact of physical exercise are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of age and lifelong moderate-intensity exercise on rat testis. Mature adults (35 weeks) and middle-aged (61 weeks) Wistar Unilever male rats were maintained as sedentary or subjected to a lifelong moderate-intensity treadmill training protocol. Testis weight and histology, mitochondrial biogenesis and function, and proteins involved in protein synthesis and stress response were evaluated. Our results illustrate an age-induced testicular atrophy that was associated with alterations in stress response, and mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Aging was associated with increased testicular levels of heat shock protein beta-1 (HSP27) and antioxidant enzymes. Aging was also associated with decreased mRNA abundance of the nuclear respiratory factor 1 (Nrf1), a key transcription factor for mitochondrial biogenesis, which was accompanied by decreased protein levels of the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) complexes subunits in the testes of older animals. On the other hand, exercise did not protect against age-induced testicular atrophy and led to deleterious effects on sperm morphology. Exercise led to an even more pronounced decrease in the Nrf1 mRNA levels in testes of both age groups and was associated with decreased mRNA abundance of other mitochondrial biogenesis markers and decreased protein levels of OXPHOS complexes subunits. Lifelong moderate-intensity exercise training was also associated with an increase in testicular oxidative stress markers and possibly with reduced translation. Together, our results indicate that exercise did not protect against age-induced testicular atrophy and was not associated with beneficial changes in mitochondria and stress response, further activating mechanisms of protein synthesis inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana V. Silva
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine—iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Santiago
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine—iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Matos
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine—iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Magda C. Henriques
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine—iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Daniela Patrício
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine—iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana D. Martins
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - José A. Duarte
- Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Ferreira
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Marco G. Alves
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Oliveira
- Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Pedro F. Oliveira
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine—iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-918-143-947
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