Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats

Objective: Heavy metals and environmental pollutants, such as cadmium chloride, congenital disorders, and certain diseases, can lead to infertility in men. In this study, the effects of lupeol (an active pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant properties) on testicular injuries induced by cadmium...

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Main Authors: Parmida Arabkarami, Pejman Mortazavi, Saeed Hesaraki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_24716_695b2f54c3e6e332e9643e156ef4a208.pdf
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author Parmida Arabkarami
Pejman Mortazavi
Saeed Hesaraki
author_facet Parmida Arabkarami
Pejman Mortazavi
Saeed Hesaraki
author_sort Parmida Arabkarami
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Heavy metals and environmental pollutants, such as cadmium chloride, congenital disorders, and certain diseases, can lead to infertility in men. In this study, the effects of lupeol (an active pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant properties) on testicular injuries induced by cadmium chloride were investigated in male rats.Materials and Methods: Lupeol was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, and the experiment included 40 male Wistar rats divided into 8 groups (healthy control, healthy rats treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol, cadmium chloride, and three groups that received cadmium chloride and were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol). After oral treatment, rats were anesthetized, and blood and testicular tissue sampling was done. Subsequent analysis of oxidative stress enzymes, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), testosterone, sperm motility, and Aquaporin 9 (AQ9) levels was performed using ELISA, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. Immunohistochemistry staining was done for expression of Aquaporin 9 in seminiferous tubules.Results: The results showed that compared to the healthy control, cadmium chloride caused a significant decrease in SOD, testosterone, sperm motility, and sperm vitality, with severe destruction of spermatogenic tubes and a significant increase in MDA and AQ9 rate. Rats which were treated with cadmium chloride+400 mg/kg of lupeol showed a significant increase in SOD, testosterone, histopathology, sperm motility, and sperm vitality rate, and significant organization of spermatogenic tubes in testis tissue. There was also a decrease in MDA and AQ9 of rats that received high-dose lupeol. (P<0.001)Conclusion: This study suggests that lupeol has a high potential for improving male reproduction and antioxidants in rats exposed to oxidative stress.
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2228-7949
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spelling doaj-art-3e5bf2689b2e4e65a54e8af9c695ba742025-08-20T03:52:56ZengMashhad University of Medical SciencesAvicenna Journal of Phytomedicine2228-79302228-79492025-01-0115190791910.22038/ajp.2024.2471624716Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in ratsParmida Arabkarami0Pejman Mortazavi1Saeed Hesaraki2Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranObjective: Heavy metals and environmental pollutants, such as cadmium chloride, congenital disorders, and certain diseases, can lead to infertility in men. In this study, the effects of lupeol (an active pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant properties) on testicular injuries induced by cadmium chloride were investigated in male rats.Materials and Methods: Lupeol was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, and the experiment included 40 male Wistar rats divided into 8 groups (healthy control, healthy rats treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol, cadmium chloride, and three groups that received cadmium chloride and were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol). After oral treatment, rats were anesthetized, and blood and testicular tissue sampling was done. Subsequent analysis of oxidative stress enzymes, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), testosterone, sperm motility, and Aquaporin 9 (AQ9) levels was performed using ELISA, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. Immunohistochemistry staining was done for expression of Aquaporin 9 in seminiferous tubules.Results: The results showed that compared to the healthy control, cadmium chloride caused a significant decrease in SOD, testosterone, sperm motility, and sperm vitality, with severe destruction of spermatogenic tubes and a significant increase in MDA and AQ9 rate. Rats which were treated with cadmium chloride+400 mg/kg of lupeol showed a significant increase in SOD, testosterone, histopathology, sperm motility, and sperm vitality rate, and significant organization of spermatogenic tubes in testis tissue. There was also a decrease in MDA and AQ9 of rats that received high-dose lupeol. (P<0.001)Conclusion: This study suggests that lupeol has a high potential for improving male reproduction and antioxidants in rats exposed to oxidative stress.https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_24716_695b2f54c3e6e332e9643e156ef4a208.pdfinfertilitylupeolcadmium chloridemalondialdehydesuperoxide dismutase
spellingShingle Parmida Arabkarami
Pejman Mortazavi
Saeed Hesaraki
Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
infertility
lupeol
cadmium chloride
malondialdehyde
superoxide dismutase
title Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats
title_full Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats
title_fullStr Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats
title_full_unstemmed Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats
title_short Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats
title_sort effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats
topic infertility
lupeol
cadmium chloride
malondialdehyde
superoxide dismutase
url https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_24716_695b2f54c3e6e332e9643e156ef4a208.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT parmidaarabkarami effectoflupeolontesticularlesionsinducedbycadmiumchlorideinrats
AT pejmanmortazavi effectoflupeolontesticularlesionsinducedbycadmiumchlorideinrats
AT saeedhesaraki effectoflupeolontesticularlesionsinducedbycadmiumchlorideinrats