Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Eldakahliya, Egypt.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafr Elsheikh University, Egypt.
Toxicology. 2019 Jun 15;422:76-83. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2019.04.015. Epub 2019 May 1.
Exposure to heavy metals contributes to most of the unexplained male infertility. Lead (Pb) is a well- known heavy metal, which disrupt the male reproductive system. This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic and protective effects of green tea active principle, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on the lead toxicity-induced infertility in male rats. Male albino rats receiving lead acetate (PbAc, 50 mg/l) once a daily in drinking water showed reduction of spermatozoa count and motility, diminishing the weights of testes, seminal vesicle and epididymis, low level of serum testosterone and 17β-estradiol (E2), and degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules. Additionally, the Pb exposure caused a testicular oxidative stress with a decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) enzymes, a remarkable rising in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as a downregulation in P450 aromatase gene expression (Cyp19) in the rats' testicular tissues. These adverse effects of Pb were ameliorated by EGCG treatment, which increased testosterone, E2 serum level, and aromatase P450 gene expression, and improved testicular architecture and semen picture. Additionally, EGCG decreased the tissue levels of MDA and retained the levels of antioxidative enzymes. In conclusion, EGCG administration can provide a significant protection against testicular toxicity caused by pb, indicating the beneficial roles of EGCG on the male reproductive system.
重金属暴露是导致大多数不明原因男性不育的原因之一。铅(Pb)是一种众所周知的重金属,它会破坏男性生殖系统。本研究旨在探讨绿茶活性成分表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)对雄性大鼠铅毒性引起的不育的治疗和保护作用。雄性白化大鼠每天一次在饮用水中接受醋酸铅(PbAc,50mg/l)处理,表现出精子计数和活力减少、睾丸、精囊和附睾重量减轻、血清睾酮和 17β-雌二醇(E2)水平降低、以及曲细精管退化等现象。此外,Pb 暴露引起睾丸氧化应激,导致超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)酶活性降低、丙二醛(MDA)水平显著升高以及 P450 芳香酶基因表达(Cyp19)下调。EGCG 处理可改善这些不利影响,增加睾酮、E2 血清水平和芳香酶 P450 基因表达,并改善睾丸结构和精液情况。此外,EGCG 降低了组织中 MDA 的水平并维持了抗氧化酶的水平。总之,EGCG 的给药可以对铅引起的睾丸毒性提供显著的保护作用,表明 EGCG 对男性生殖系统具有有益作用。