Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway
Background: Valproic Acid (VPA), a widely used anticonvulsant, is known to induce oxidative stress, contributing to male infertility. This study explores the potential of micronutrient antioxidants to improve fertility in VPA-treated individuals. Methods: Six-week-old male mice were treated with VPA...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
|
| Series: | Redox Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231725001983 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849227028575813632 |
|---|---|
| author | Muhammad Arif Asghar Bing Wan Lu Li Jie Zhang Shixin Tang Hang Han Yuanyuan Yang Long Chu Qian Zhang Xiao Zhang Qinjian Zhao |
| author_facet | Muhammad Arif Asghar Bing Wan Lu Li Jie Zhang Shixin Tang Hang Han Yuanyuan Yang Long Chu Qian Zhang Xiao Zhang Qinjian Zhao |
| author_sort | Muhammad Arif Asghar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Valproic Acid (VPA), a widely used anticonvulsant, is known to induce oxidative stress, contributing to male infertility. This study explores the potential of micronutrient antioxidants to improve fertility in VPA-treated individuals. Methods: Six-week-old male mice were treated with VPA and supplemented with antioxidants, including l-Arginine (120 mg/kg), N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) (2 mg/kg), Taurine (200 mg/kg), L-Tryptophan (0.5 mg/kg), Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) (1.5 mg/kg), and Selenium (0.5 mg/kg). The dosing regimen lasted for 34 days. Sperm quality, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed through gene expression analysis, western blotting, histological assessments, TUNEL assays, and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, GC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cell lines were used to examine the testicular and systemic effects of VPA and antioxidants. Network pharmacology was applied to identify key molecular targets and pathways. Results: Antioxidant supplementation significantly improved sperm count, with l-Arginine showing an approximately 296.1 % increase, NAC a 270.7 % increase, and Taurine a 255.9 % increase compared to the VPA-only group. Furthermore, antioxidants enhanced semen volume, testosterone levels, sperm motility, morphology, and viability. Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of key oxidative stress-related proteins such as SOD1, HO-1, NRF2, and NQO1. Western blot and histological analyses showed a reversal of oxidative stress and preservation of seminiferous tubule integrity. TUNEL assays demonstrated a reduction in apoptotic damage, and IHC confirmed an increase in HO-1 and SOD1. In vitro studies with GC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cells confirmed that antioxidants alleviated VPA-induced oxidative stress. Network pharmacology identified key molecular targets, such as GPX4, SOD1, HO-1, and NRF2, which are involved in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation pathways, that were modulated by antioxidants. Conclusion: Micronutrient antioxidants effectively reduce VPA-induced oxidative stress and improve male fertility. These results suggest that antioxidant supplementation could be a promising strategy to mitigate oxidative damage and enhance fertility in individuals undergoing VPA therapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6613a4baec74005ba7a8715dff772b3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2213-2317 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Redox Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6613a4baec74005ba7a8715dff772b32025-08-24T05:12:13ZengElsevierRedox Biology2213-23172025-09-018510368510.1016/j.redox.2025.103685Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathwayMuhammad Arif Asghar0Bing Wan1Lu Li2Jie Zhang3Shixin Tang4Hang Han5Yuanyuan Yang6Long Chu7Qian Zhang8Xiao Zhang9Qinjian Zhao10College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaLaboratory Animal Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Corresponding author.College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Corresponding author.Background: Valproic Acid (VPA), a widely used anticonvulsant, is known to induce oxidative stress, contributing to male infertility. This study explores the potential of micronutrient antioxidants to improve fertility in VPA-treated individuals. Methods: Six-week-old male mice were treated with VPA and supplemented with antioxidants, including l-Arginine (120 mg/kg), N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) (2 mg/kg), Taurine (200 mg/kg), L-Tryptophan (0.5 mg/kg), Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) (1.5 mg/kg), and Selenium (0.5 mg/kg). The dosing regimen lasted for 34 days. Sperm quality, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed through gene expression analysis, western blotting, histological assessments, TUNEL assays, and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, GC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cell lines were used to examine the testicular and systemic effects of VPA and antioxidants. Network pharmacology was applied to identify key molecular targets and pathways. Results: Antioxidant supplementation significantly improved sperm count, with l-Arginine showing an approximately 296.1 % increase, NAC a 270.7 % increase, and Taurine a 255.9 % increase compared to the VPA-only group. Furthermore, antioxidants enhanced semen volume, testosterone levels, sperm motility, morphology, and viability. Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of key oxidative stress-related proteins such as SOD1, HO-1, NRF2, and NQO1. Western blot and histological analyses showed a reversal of oxidative stress and preservation of seminiferous tubule integrity. TUNEL assays demonstrated a reduction in apoptotic damage, and IHC confirmed an increase in HO-1 and SOD1. In vitro studies with GC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cells confirmed that antioxidants alleviated VPA-induced oxidative stress. Network pharmacology identified key molecular targets, such as GPX4, SOD1, HO-1, and NRF2, which are involved in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation pathways, that were modulated by antioxidants. Conclusion: Micronutrient antioxidants effectively reduce VPA-induced oxidative stress and improve male fertility. These results suggest that antioxidant supplementation could be a promising strategy to mitigate oxidative damage and enhance fertility in individuals undergoing VPA therapy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231725001983Valproic acid-induced infertilityNRF2/HO-1 pathwayMicronutrient antioxidantsOxidative stressGC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cellsNetwork pharmacology |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Arif Asghar Bing Wan Lu Li Jie Zhang Shixin Tang Hang Han Yuanyuan Yang Long Chu Qian Zhang Xiao Zhang Qinjian Zhao Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway Redox Biology Valproic acid-induced infertility NRF2/HO-1 pathway Micronutrient antioxidants Oxidative stress GC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cells Network pharmacology |
| title | Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway |
| title_full | Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway |
| title_fullStr | Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway |
| title_short | Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway |
| title_sort | micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the nrf2 ho 1 pathway |
| topic | Valproic acid-induced infertility NRF2/HO-1 pathway Micronutrient antioxidants Oxidative stress GC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cells Network pharmacology |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231725001983 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muhammadarifasghar micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT bingwan micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT luli micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT jiezhang micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT shixintang micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT hanghan micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT yuanyuanyang micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT longchu micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT qianzhang micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT xiaozhang micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway AT qinjianzhao micronutrientantioxidantsupplementationalleviatesvalproicacidinducedoxidativestressandmaleinfertilityviathenrf2ho1pathway |