Vitamins e and C alleviate the germ cell loss and oxidative stress in cryptorchidism when administered separately but not when combined in rats

Study on the mechanism of vitamin E alleviating non-alcoholic fatty liver function based on non-targeted metabolomics analysis in rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Vitamin E (VE) has antioxidant properties and can mediate lipid metabolism. Non-targeted metabolomics technology was employed to uncover comprehensively the metabolome of VE in NAFLD rats. NAFLD model was created with a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFD) in rats. NAFLD rats in the VE group were given 75 mg/(kg day) VE. The metabolites in the serum of rats were identified via UPLC and Q-TOF/MS analysis. KEGG was applied for the pathway enrichment. VE improved the liver function, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress in NAFLD rats induced by HFD. Based on the metabolite profile data, 132 differential metabolites were identified between VE group and the HFD group, mainly including pyridoxamine, betaine, and bretylium. According to the KEGG results, biosynthesis of cofactors was a key metabolic pathway of VE in NAFLD rats. VE can alleviate NAFLD induced by HFD, and the underlying mechanism is associated with the biosynthesis of cofactors, mainly including pyridoxine and betaine.

Amelioration on oxidative stress, testosterone, and cortisol levels after administration of Vitamins C and E in albino rats with chronic variable stress

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Stress can cause physiological and biological disorders in the body. On the other hand, antioxidants from vitamins and minerals are effective for stress treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the administration of Vitamins C and E on serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), testosterone, and cortisol activity in albino rats with chronic variable stress (CVS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty albino rats were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: C was administered normal saline; T1 was administered Vitamins C and E; T2 was only induced CVS; and T3 was induced CVS followed by Vitamins C and E administration. All treatments were applied for 4 weeks, respectively. Furthermore, 5 mL of blood samples were collected intracardially. Body weight data were collected for the initial and final weights. From serum samples, SOD, GPx, and CAT were measured using the enzymol method; MDA was measured using the high-performance liquid chromatography method; and testosterone and cortisol were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. All variables were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance followed by the Duncan test (p<0.05).

RESULTS

Our findings showed that the T1 and T3 groups significantly decreased (p<0.001) compared to T2 in the following parameters: SOD, MDA, GPx, and cortisol. Meanwhile, CAT and testosterone levels in the T1 and T3 groups were significantly increased (p<0.001) compared to the T2 group. In addition, the weight gain in T1 and T3 groups was significantly increased (p<0.001) compared to T2 group.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that the administration of Vitamins C and E had a significant effect to alleviate SOD, MDA, GPx, and cortisol and to improve the testosterone level in albino rats with CVS.

Rubus apetalus (Rosaceae) improves spermatozoa characteristics, antioxidant enzymes and fertility potential in unilateral cryptorchid rats

BACKGROUND

Cryptorchidism (CPT) is an important cause of male infertility. Rubus apetalus is a medicinal plant with a powerful antioxidant potential. We investigated the effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of R. apetalus on spermatozoa parameters, antioxidant enzymes and fertility potential of rats with experimental unilateral CPT.

METHOD

Normal (n = 15), sham-operated (n = 15) and cryptorchid rats (n = 80; distributed into 16 groups of 5 rats/group) were treated for 2, 4 or 8 weeks with either distilled water (10 ml/kg/day), vitamin E (75 mg/kg/day), aqueous or methanolic extract of R. apetalus (12 and 60 mg/kg). Sex organ weights, spermatozoa parameters, testicular proteins, sex hormones, fertility potential, morphometric characteristics of testis and oxidative stress markers were measured.

RESULTS

CPT significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) decreased testicular and epididymal weights, spermatozoa density, spermatozoa motility, spermatozoa normality, testicular proteins, LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations. In cryptorchid rats, peri-vascular fibrosis significantly increased (p < 0.001), while diameter of the seminiferous tube, germ cell thickness, gestation index and fertility index decreased when compared to control. Additionally, CPT induced oxidative stress by increasing lipid peroxidation and by reducing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. These alterations were corrected by R. apetalus. For instance, a significantly increase (p < 0.05-0.001) in spermatozoa motility, normality, viability and density after 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment was noticed. R. apetalus also increased (p < 0.05-0.001) testicular proteins, gestation index (90-100%) and fertility index (90-100%), compared to the untreated cryptorchid rats.

CONCLUSION

R. apetalus boosts fertility potential in cryptorchid rats and could be considered as a promising alternative agent for the management of infertility associated with CPT.

Melatonin and vitamin C exacerbate Cannabis sativa-induced testicular damage when administered separately but ameliorate it when combined in rats

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms involved in the spermatotoxic effect of Cannabis sativa are inconclusive. The involvement of oxidative stress in male factor infertility has been well documented, and the antioxidative potential of melatonin and vitamin C in many oxidative stress conditions has been well reported. This study sought to investigate whether melatonin and vitamin C will ameliorate C. sativa-induced spermatotoxicity or not.

METHODS

Fifty-five (55) male albino rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided in a blinded fashion into five oral treatment groups as follows: group I (control, n=5) received 1 mL/kg of 10% ethanol for 30 days; groups IIa, IIb, and IIc (n=5 each) received 2 mg/kg C. sativa for 20, 30, and 40 days, respectively; groups IIIa, IIIb, and IIIc (n=5 each) received a combination of 2 mg/kg C. sativa and 4 mg/kg melatonin for 20, 30, and 40 days, respectively; groups IVa, IVb, and IVc (n=5 each) received a combination of 2 mg/kg C. sativa and 1.25 g/kg vitamin C for 20, 30, and 40 days, respectively; group V (n=5) received a combination of 2 mg/kg C. sativa, 4 mg/kg melatonin, and 1.25 g/kg vitamin C for 30 days.

RESULTS

Cannabis treatments reduced the Johnsen score, sperm count, motility, morphology, paired testicular/body weight ratio, and total antioxidant capacity, but increased lactate dehydrogenase activity. In addition, supplementation of cannabis-treated rats with either melatonin or vitamin C exacerbates the effect of cannabis on those parameters, whereas combination of melatonin and vitamin C reversed the trend to the level comparable to control.

CONCLUSIONS

This study further showed the gonadotoxic effect of C. sativa, which could be mediated by oxidative stress. It also showed that melatonin and vitamin C exacerbate C. sativa-induced testicular damage when administered separately but ameliorate it when combined in rats.