Efficacy of propolis and royal jelly in attenuating cadmium-induced spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis dysregulation, causing infertility in rats.

Autor: Amr A; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 21568, Alexandria, Egypt., Karim AEA; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 21568, Alexandria, Egypt., Augustyniak M; Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland., Wakil AE; Biological and Geological Sciences Department, Faculty of Education, Alexandria University, 21526, Alexandria, Egypt., El-Samad LM; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 21568, Alexandria, Egypt., Hassan MA; Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt. madel@srtacity.sci.eg.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Environmental science and pollution research international [Environ Sci Pollut Res Int] 2024 Aug; Vol. 31 (40), pp. 53052-53073. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 22.
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34673-0
Abstrakt: Bee-derived pharmaceutical products, including propolis (PRO) and royal jelly (ROJ), possess outstanding pharmacological properties. However, their efficiency in counteracting the deleterious influences of cadmium (Cd) in testes and the relevant mechanisms entail further investigations. Therefore, this study sheds light on the therapeutic efficacy of PRO and ROJ against testicular dysfunction and infertility induced by Cd. Toward this end, 30 mature male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups (5 animals/group), including (I) control, (II) Cd, (III) PRO, (IV) ROJ, (V) PRO + Cd, and (VI) ROJ + Cd groups. Furthermore, antioxidant factors, semen quality, hormonal levels, steroidogenic enzymes, and genotoxicity were assessed. Moreover, histopathological and ultrastructural attributes and offspring rates were investigated. The Cd-treated group revealed marked reductions in reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) with an amplification of lipid peroxidation in testes, indicating disruption of the antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and DNA damage were significantly heightened, implying inflammation and genotoxicity, respectively. Moreover, steroidogenic enzymes, including 17β-Hydroxy Steroid Dehydrogenase 3 (HSD17b3), 3β-Hydroxy Steroid Dehydrogenase 2 (HSD3b2), 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1), and steroid 5α-reductase 2 (SRD5A2) were markedly diminished accompanied with disorders in luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone. Besides, spermatozoa quality was reduced, associated with a diminution in the diameter of seminiferous tubules. By contrast, PRO or ROJ significantly protected and/or counteracted the Cd-induced pathophysiological consequences, ameliorating antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers, steroidogenic enzymes, hormonal levels, and sperm properties, along with lessening DNA impairments. Critically, histological and ultrastructural analyses manifested several anomalies in the testicular tissues of the Cd-administered group, including the Leydig and Sertoli cells and spermatozoa. Conversely, PRO or ROJ sustained testicular tissues' structure, enhancing spermatozoa integrity and productivity. Interestingly, treatment with PRO or ROJ improved fertility indices through offspring rates compared to the Cd-animal group. Our data suggest that PRO is a more effective countermeasure than ROJ against Cd toxicity for securing the delicate testicular microenvironment for spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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