Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of lutein

Abstract Background Lutein offers undoubted hope for preventing doxorubicin uncharacteristic reproductive function which remains a worldwide health concern in cancer chemotherapy. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of lutein on maintaining the male reproductive milieu have not yet been fu...

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Main Authors: Jennifer Efe Jaiyeoba-Ojigho, Jerome Ndudi Asiwe, Joseph Chimezie, Blessing Oluwakemi Abe, Oghenemarho Monalisa Ataikiru, Taniyohwo Mamerhi Enaohwo, Alexander Obidike Naiho, Lilian Ebele Chris-Ozoko, Godstime Jesukobiruo Ibada, Sylvester Ifeakachukwu Okuepusu, Favour Isioma Ikukaiwe, Winnie Taiye Ogwu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Laboratory Animal Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42826-025-00249-3
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author Jennifer Efe Jaiyeoba-Ojigho
Jerome Ndudi Asiwe
Joseph Chimezie
Blessing Oluwakemi Abe
Oghenemarho Monalisa Ataikiru
Taniyohwo Mamerhi Enaohwo
Alexander Obidike Naiho
Lilian Ebele Chris-Ozoko
Godstime Jesukobiruo Ibada
Sylvester Ifeakachukwu Okuepusu
Favour Isioma Ikukaiwe
Winnie Taiye Ogwu
author_facet Jennifer Efe Jaiyeoba-Ojigho
Jerome Ndudi Asiwe
Joseph Chimezie
Blessing Oluwakemi Abe
Oghenemarho Monalisa Ataikiru
Taniyohwo Mamerhi Enaohwo
Alexander Obidike Naiho
Lilian Ebele Chris-Ozoko
Godstime Jesukobiruo Ibada
Sylvester Ifeakachukwu Okuepusu
Favour Isioma Ikukaiwe
Winnie Taiye Ogwu
author_sort Jennifer Efe Jaiyeoba-Ojigho
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Lutein offers undoubted hope for preventing doxorubicin uncharacteristic reproductive function which remains a worldwide health concern in cancer chemotherapy. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of lutein on maintaining the male reproductive milieu have not yet been fully identified. The current study investigates the preventive effect of lutein in doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity. Methods Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups of five animals (n = 5) and were pretreated with lutein (40 mg/kg i.p) prior to doxorubicin treatment (15 mg/kg i.p). Following the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized and the testes were collected and processed for semen and biochemical analysis. Results The results revealed that exposure to doxorubicin caused hormonal imbalance, reduced semen quality and elicited oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, apoptosis as well as dysregulation of autophagic process which was accompanied by fibrosis and histomorphological aberrations. Interestingly, pretreatment with lutein significantly restored hormonal balance and protected against the adverse effects of doxorubicin. Conclusions The findings of this study showed that lutein prevents doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity via modulation autophagic pathways accompanied with inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.
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spelling doaj-art-fa5a9ef574ff486db5f0b5f55455ca712025-08-20T02:39:44ZengBMCLaboratory Animal Research2233-76602025-06-0141111210.1186/s42826-025-00249-3Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of luteinJennifer Efe Jaiyeoba-Ojigho0Jerome Ndudi Asiwe1Joseph Chimezie2Blessing Oluwakemi Abe3Oghenemarho Monalisa Ataikiru4Taniyohwo Mamerhi Enaohwo5Alexander Obidike Naiho6Lilian Ebele Chris-Ozoko7Godstime Jesukobiruo Ibada8Sylvester Ifeakachukwu Okuepusu9Favour Isioma Ikukaiwe10Winnie Taiye Ogwu11Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of IbadanDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Lead City UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of DeltaDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State UniversityAbstract Background Lutein offers undoubted hope for preventing doxorubicin uncharacteristic reproductive function which remains a worldwide health concern in cancer chemotherapy. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of lutein on maintaining the male reproductive milieu have not yet been fully identified. The current study investigates the preventive effect of lutein in doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity. Methods Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups of five animals (n = 5) and were pretreated with lutein (40 mg/kg i.p) prior to doxorubicin treatment (15 mg/kg i.p). Following the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized and the testes were collected and processed for semen and biochemical analysis. Results The results revealed that exposure to doxorubicin caused hormonal imbalance, reduced semen quality and elicited oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, apoptosis as well as dysregulation of autophagic process which was accompanied by fibrosis and histomorphological aberrations. Interestingly, pretreatment with lutein significantly restored hormonal balance and protected against the adverse effects of doxorubicin. Conclusions The findings of this study showed that lutein prevents doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity via modulation autophagic pathways accompanied with inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42826-025-00249-3LuteinDoxorubicinSteroidogenesisTesticular toxicityAutophagy
spellingShingle Jennifer Efe Jaiyeoba-Ojigho
Jerome Ndudi Asiwe
Joseph Chimezie
Blessing Oluwakemi Abe
Oghenemarho Monalisa Ataikiru
Taniyohwo Mamerhi Enaohwo
Alexander Obidike Naiho
Lilian Ebele Chris-Ozoko
Godstime Jesukobiruo Ibada
Sylvester Ifeakachukwu Okuepusu
Favour Isioma Ikukaiwe
Winnie Taiye Ogwu
Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of lutein
Laboratory Animal Research
Lutein
Doxorubicin
Steroidogenesis
Testicular toxicity
Autophagy
title Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of lutein
title_full Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of lutein
title_fullStr Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of lutein
title_full_unstemmed Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of lutein
title_short Doxorubicin-mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mTOR/Beclin-1 pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats: preventive role of lutein
title_sort doxorubicin mediated testicular toxicity is associated with dysregulated mtor beclin 1 pathways oxidative stress inflammation and apoptosis in wistar rats preventive role of lutein
topic Lutein
Doxorubicin
Steroidogenesis
Testicular toxicity
Autophagy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42826-025-00249-3
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