RESUMO
CONTEXT: Sulfasalazine (SAS) is a drug prescribed for pregnant and breastfeeding women with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. SAS treatment induces transitory infertility in both adult men and male rats. Although SAS crosses the placenta and passes into maternal milk, the consequences of maternal SAS exposure on the reproductive development of male offspring needs further study. AIMS: The current study evaluated whether maternal SAS exposure interferes with the reproductive development of male rat offspring in the neonatal, infant, pubertal and adulthood periods. METHODS: Pregnant Wistar rats (n =10/group) received 300mg/kg/day of SAS dissolved in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), by gavage, from gestational day 0 to lactation day 21, and 3mg/kg/day of folic acid during gestation. The control group received CMC. KEY RESULTS: During puberty, maternal SAS exposure increased the total length of seminiferous tubules, and round cells were observed in the lumen of caput and cauda epididymis. Moreover, SAS induced oxidative stress-related alterations in the testes of infant and adolescent rats. CONCLUSIONS: Although maternal SAS treatment caused reproductive alterations in infant and adolescent male rats, in adulthood, there were no impairments in sperm parameters that could compromise fertility. IMPLICATIONS: This study investigated the consequences of maternal exposure to SAS on the reproductive development of male rat offspring from birth to adulthood, employing a human-relevant dose. Thus, this study provides information for better understanding of SAS treatment during critical periods of development.
Assuntos
Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Sulfassalazina , Humanos , Gravidez , Masculino , Ratos , Feminino , Animais , Adolescente , Sulfassalazina/farmacologia , Aleitamento Materno , Ratos Wistar , Sêmen , Lactação , Exposição Materna/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Several biological activities of the fungal exopolysaccharide (1 â 3)(1 â 6)-ß-d-glucan (botryosphaeran) have been described in the literature, but its effects on inflammation have not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the action of botryosphaeran on experimental mice models of carrageenan-induced acute pleurisy and acute paw edema, and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced persistent paw edema. All botryosphaeran doses tested (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/kg birth weight [b.w.], orally administered) reduced leukocyte recruitment, nitric oxide (NO) levels, and protein extravasation in the pleural cavity. Botryosphaeran (5 mg/kg b.w.) did not diminish edema and mechanical hyperalgesia in the paw within 4 h; however, cold allodynia was alleviated within the first 2 h. In the persistent paw inflammation model, the effects of daily oral administration of botryosphaeran (5 mg/kg b.w.) were evaluated over 3 and 7 days. The fungal ß-glucan significantly reduced the levels of the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6), and IL-10, in the paw homogenates in both protocols, while paw edema and the levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) only diminished on Day 7. No effect in mechanical hyperalgesia was observed. Oral treatment for 3 or 7 days also decreased the plasma levels of NO, AOPP, TNF-α, and IL-10. On Day 7, the number of leukocytes in the blood was also reduced by this treatment. Importantly, botryosphaeran did not induce inflammation in mice when administered alone over 7 days. This study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential of botryosphaeran in these experimental models, making this fungal ß-glucan a new possibility for complementary treating acute and chronic inflammation.
Assuntos
Hiperalgesia , beta-Glucanas , Administração Oral , Produtos da Oxidação Avançada de Proteínas/metabolismo , Animais , Edema/induzido quimicamente , Edema/tratamento farmacológico , Edema/patologia , Glucanos/efeitos adversos , Glucanos/farmacologia , Glucanos/uso terapêutico , Hiperalgesia/induzido quimicamente , Hiperalgesia/tratamento farmacológico , Inflamação/induzido quimicamente , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Interleucina-10 , Leucócitos/patologia , Camundongos , Nociceptividade , beta-Glucanas/efeitos adversos , beta-Glucanas/farmacologia , beta-Glucanas/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure reduces skeletal muscle function; however, the mechanisms involved have been poorly investigated. The current study evaluated the temporal effects of aerobic exercise training on oxidant and antioxidant systems as well as inflammatory markers in skeletal muscle of mice exposed to CS. Mice were randomly allocated to control, exercise, smoke, and smoke+exercise groups and 3 time points (4, 8, and 12 weeks; n = 12 per group). Exercise training and CS exposure were performed for 30 min/day, twice a day, 5 days/week for 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Aerobic exercise improved functional capacity and attenuated the increase in the cachexia index induced by CS exposure after 12 weeks. Concomitantly, exercise training downregulated tumor necrosis factor α concentration, glutathione oxidation, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of Keap1 (P < 0.01) and upregulated interleukin 10 concentration, total antioxidant capacity, and mRNA expression of Nrf2, Gsr, and Txn1 (P < 0.01) in muscle. Exercise increased mRNA expression of Hmox1 compared with the control after 12 weeks (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between smoke groups for superoxide dismutase activity and Hmox1 mRNA expression. Exercise training improved the ability of skeletal muscle to adequately upregulate key antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses to detoxify electrophilic compounds induced by CS exposure, and these effects were more pronounced after 12 weeks. Novelty Exercise attenuates oxidative stress in skeletal muscle from animals exposed to CS via Nrf2 and glutathione pathways. Exercise is a helpful tool to control the inflammatory balance in skeletal muscle from animals exposed to CS. These beneficial effects were evident after 12 weeks.
Assuntos
Citocinas/metabolismo , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Fator 2 Relacionado a NF-E2/metabolismo , Condicionamento Físico Animal , Fumaça/efeitos adversos , Animais , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Caquexia , Fumar Cigarros/efeitos adversos , Glutationa/metabolismo , Interleucina-10/metabolismo , Proteína 1 Associada a ECH Semelhante a Kelch/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Músculo Esquelético/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismoRESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of creatine supplementation on muscle wasting in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 10/group): control (C), tumor bearing (T), and tumor bearing supplemented with creatine (TCr). Creatine was provided in drinking water for a total of 21 days. After 11 days of supplementation, tumor cells were implanted subcutaneously into T and TCr groups. The animals' weight, food and water intake were evaluated along the experimental protocol. After 10 days of tumor implantation (21 total), animals were euthanized for inflammatory state and skeletal muscle cross-sectional area measurements. Skeletal muscle components of ubiquitin-proteasome pathways were also evaluated using real-time PCR and immunoblotting. RESULTS: The results showed that creatine supplementation protected tumor-bearing rats against body weight loss and skeletal muscle atrophy. Creatine intake promoted lower levels of plasma TNF-α and IL-6 and smaller spleen morphology changes such as reduced size of white pulp and lymphoid follicle compared to tumor-bearing rats. In addition, creatine prevented increased levels of skeletal muscle Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, key regulators of muscle atrophy. CONCLUSION: Creatine supplementation prevents skeletal muscle atrophy by attenuating tumor-induced pro-inflammatory environment, a condition that minimizes Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1-dependent proteolysis.
Assuntos
Carcinoma 256 de Walker/metabolismo , Creatina/farmacologia , Suplementos Nutricionais , Inflamação/prevenção & controle , Atrofia Muscular/prevenção & controle , Proteólise/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Creatina/administração & dosagem , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Masculino , Músculo Esquelético/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
PURPOSE: Although resistance exercise (RE) is now recognized as an adjuvant in cancer treatment because of its capacity to prevent muscle wasting, weakness, and cachexia, it is unknown whether RE can mitigate tumor development. Two solid adenocarcinoma models (Walker-256 and Ehrlich) were used to investigate the effects of RE on tumor cell proliferation, growth, and aggressiveness parameters in tumor-bearing animals' life span. METHODS: Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats and Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice were subjected to RE, which consisted of climbing a ladder apparatus with loads tied to their tails. After 4 wk, animals were euthanized, and tumors were excised and assessed for tumor microenvironment evaluation such as cell proliferation and apoptosis determination, collagen deposit, and presence of malignant tumor morphology. RESULTS: Our data demonstrate that RE mitigated tumor growth and favored tumor end points such as lower Scarff-Bloom-Richardson histological grade tumor, denoting slow cell aberrant form and division, decreased tumor cell proliferation (evaluated by nucleus marked with antigen ki-67), and lower viable tumor area in both types of tumors studied. In addition, RE stimulated tumor microvessel density in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats, but there was no change in their life span. CONCLUSION: RE may mitigate tumor growth and tumor malignancy parameters such as lower histopathological grade, assuming less nuclear pleomorphism and mitotic cells, smaller viable tumor area, and decreased tumor cell proliferation in both adenocarcinomas. In addition, RE induced tumor vascularization.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Ehrlich/patologia , Condicionamento Físico Animal/fisiologia , Treinamento Resistido , Animais , Apoptose , Carcinoma de Ehrlich/metabolismo , Proliferação de Células , Colágeno/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Antígeno Ki-67/análise , Masculino , Camundongos , Ratos Wistar , Microambiente TumoralRESUMO
Muscle wasting or atrophy is extensively associated with human systemic diseases including diabetes, cancer, and kidney failure. Accumulating evidence from transcriptional profiles has noted that a common set of genes, termed atrogenes, is modulated in atrophying muscles. However, the transcriptional changes that trigger the reversion or attenuation of muscle atrophy have not been characterized at the molecular level until now. Here, we applied cDNA microarrays to investigate the transcriptional response of androgen-sensitive Levator ani muscle (LA) during atrophy reversion. Most of the differentially expressed genes behaved as atrogenes and responded to castration-induced atrophy. However, seven genes (APLN, DUSP5, IGF1, PIK3IP1, KLHL38, PI15, and MKL1) did not respond to castration but instead responded exclusively to testosterone replacement. Considering that almost all proteins encoded by these genes are associated with the reversion of atrophy and may function as regulators of cell proliferation/growth, our results provide new perspectives on the existence of anti-atrogenes.
Assuntos
Androgênios/metabolismo , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Atrofia Muscular/metabolismo , Animais , Jejum , Terapia de Reposição Hormonal , Masculino , Camundongos , Modelos Biológicos , Músculo Esquelético/patologia , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Orquiectomia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Testosterona/administração & dosagemRESUMO
de Freitas, VH, Ramos, SP, Bara-Filho, MG, Freitas, DGS, Coimbra, DR, Cecchini, R, Guarnier, FA, and Nakamura, FY. Effect of cold water immersion performed on successive days on physical performance, muscle damage, and inflammatory, hormonal, and oxidative stress markers in volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res 33(2): 502-513, 2019-The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daily cold water immersion (CWI) on physical performance, muscle damage, and inflammatory, hormonal, and oxidative stress markers in volleyball. Six players were submitted to CWI and six players to a placebo, during 5 training days. Thigh circumference, squat jump, and agility were measured on the first, third, and sixth days. On the first and sixth days, blood and saliva were collected for analysis of oxidative stress, muscle damage, and inflammatory and hormonal levels. Muscle soreness and countermovement jump were quantified daily. The physical performance comparisons did not present differences and the only between group comparison with a large effect size (ES = -1.39) was in Δ% between day 1 and day 2 for countermovement jump. Delayed onset muscle soreness and creatine kinase increased in both groups and the ESs of between group comparisons of Δ% between moments were not more than moderate. Thigh circumference increased only in the placebo group (p = 0.04) and the ES of the between group comparisons of Δ% between moments was large (1.53). No differences were found in oxidative stress, or inflammatory markers. Cortisol decreased only in the CWI-group (p ≤ 0.05) and the ESs of the between group comparisons of Δ% between moments of the testosterone to cortisol ratio (-1.94) and insulin-like growth-1 (-1.34) were large. Despite the positive effects of daily CWI on muscle edema and hormonal status, the limited effects of CWI on performance, muscle damage, inflammation markers, and reactive oxygen species mediators signal the unimportance of the daily practice of this recovery method in volleyball players.
Assuntos
Desempenho Atlético/fisiologia , Temperatura Baixa , Músculo Esquelético/fisiologia , Voleibol/fisiologia , Água , Adulto , Biomarcadores , Creatina Quinase/sangue , Humanos , Imersão , Mediadores da Inflamação/fisiologia , Masculino , Mialgia/fisiopatologia , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Esteroides/metabolismo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis are not fully established during puberty. Especially during this period, children and adolescents may be chronically sleep deprived due to early school hours and constant exposure to artificial light and interactive activities. We have previously shown that sleep restriction (SR) during peripuberty impairs sperm motility and has consequences on epididymal development in rats. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of SR during peripuberty on sexual hormones and its impact on testicular tissue. Rats were subjected to 18 h of SR per day for 21 days or were maintained as controls (C) in the same room. The circulating luteinizing hormone levels were decreased in SR rats without changes in the follicle stimulating hormone levels. Plasma and intratesticular testosterone and corticosterone in the SR group were increased in relation to C group. These alterations impair testicular tissue, with decreased IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNFα levels in the testis and diminished seminiferous epithelium height and Sertoli cell number. SR also increased testicular lipid peroxidation with no alteration in antioxidant profiles. There were no significant changes in sperm parameters, seminiferous tubule diameter, histopathology, spermatogenesis kinetics, neutrophil and macrophage recruitment, and IL-10 concentration. Our results show that SR unbalances sexual hormones and testicular cytokines at a critical period of sexual maturation. These changes lead to lipid peroxidation in the testes and negatively influence the testicular tissue, as evidenced by diminished seminiferous epithelium height-with apoptosis of germinative cell-and Sertoli cell number.
Assuntos
Citocinas/metabolismo , Hormônios Esteroides Gonadais/metabolismo , Maturidade Sexual/fisiologia , Privação do Sono/metabolismo , Privação do Sono/fisiopatologia , Testículo/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Hormônios Esteroides Gonadais/sangue , Inflamação/metabolismo , Masculino , Tamanho do Órgão , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Análise do Sêmen , Testículo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Testículo/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
Bisphenol A (BPA) is considered a potent endocrine disruptor, causing changes in the endocrine system due to its oestrogenic activity. Male individuals may be susceptible to endocrine, morphological and physiological alterations during testicular postnatal development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether exposure to BPA during the peripubertal period can damage testicular development. To this end, male Wistar rats were treated with BPA via gavage at doses of 20 or 200µgkg-1 on Postnatal Days (PND) 36-66. The control group was treated with Oil+DMSO under the same conditions. On PND 67, rats were killed. The blood was collected for hormonal analysis, the testis for sperm count, oxidative stress, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses for ki-67 and sperm of the vas deferens for morphological analysis. Both doses of BPA resulted in abnormal sperm morphology and seminiferous tubules, with the highest dose increasing the height of the germinal epithelium and reducing the number of spermatozoa at Stages IX-XIII of spermatogenesis. In conclusion, both doses of BPA administered during the peripubertal period impaired testicular development without any effects on hormone levels (luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone levels) or oxidative stress.
Assuntos
Compostos Benzidrílicos/farmacologia , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Fenóis/farmacologia , Espermatozoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Testículo/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Forma Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Hormônio Foliculoestimulante/sangue , Hormônio Luteinizante/sangue , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Contagem de Espermatozoides , Motilidade dos Espermatozoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Espermatogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Espermatozoides/citologia , Testículo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Testosterona/sangueRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: We sought to verify whether isoflavin-beta (Iso-ß), a mixture of isoflavones with antioxidant properties, could prevent thyrotoxicosis-induced loss of muscle mass and the participation of oxidative stress (OS) in the mechanisms of this prevention. METHODS: Two experimental periods of thyrotoxicosis induction were used in Wistar rats: 3 and 5 days to assess Iso-ß effects before and after thyrotoxicosis-induced muscle wasting. After euthanasia, peritoneal fat and gastrocnemius muscle were collected, weighed, and muscle OS was assessed. RESULTS: Iso-ß prevented the loss of gastrocnemius mass in thyrotoxic rats through the prevention of muscle OS generation during thyrotoxicosis, increasing muscle total antioxidant capacity and decreasing mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl content. CONCLUSION: Iso-ß decreased oxidative modification of proteins, which is known to exert a major role during proteolysis induction and is present in thyrotoxic myopathy, highlighting the potential action of Iso-ß in this complication of the disease. Muscle Nerve 56: 975-981, 2017.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Isoflavonas/uso terapêutico , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Tireotoxicose/patologia , Tireotoxicose/prevenção & controle , Animais , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Quimotripsina/metabolismo , Cicloexanóis/sangue , Cicloexanóis/toxicidade , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Esquema de Medicação , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/metabolismo , Glicerol/sangue , Isoflavonas/farmacologia , Masculino , Músculo Esquelético/efeitos dos fármacos , Músculo Esquelético/patologia , Atrofia Muscular , Carbonilação Proteica/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismo , Substâncias Reativas com Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismo , Tireotoxicose/sangue , Tireotoxicose/induzido quimicamente , terc-Butil Hidroperóxido/metabolismoRESUMO
Good sleep quality has a direct effect on the activity of the neuroendocrine-reproductive control axis and oxidative stress. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether sleep restriction (SR) during the peripubertal period impaired the postnatal development of the epididymis in Wistar rats. After 21 days SR (18h per day), epididymides were collected on Postnatal Day (PND) 62 for evaluation of oxidative stress markers, inflammatory profile, sperm count and histopathological and stereological analyses; in addition, the motility of spermatozoa from the vas deferens was examined. SR significantly increased lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels in the caput and cauda epididymidis, and increased levels of total radical-trapping antioxidant potential in the caput epididymidis only. Neutrophil migration to the caput or corpus epididymidis was decreased by SR, and the size of the luminal compartment in the 2A region and the epithelial compartment in the 5A/B region was also decreased. In these regions, there was an increase in the size of the interstitial compartment. The percentage of immotile spermatozoa was higher in the SR group. In conclusion, SR affects epididymal postnatal development, as well as sperm motility, in association with increased oxidative stress and a decrease in the size of the epithelial compartment in the cauda epididymidis.
Assuntos
Epididimo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Estresse Oxidativo/fisiologia , Privação do Sono/fisiopatologia , Motilidade dos Espermatozoides/fisiologia , Espermatozoides/metabolismo , Animais , Movimento Celular/fisiologia , Epididimo/metabolismo , Epididimo/fisiopatologia , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/fisiologia , Masculino , Neutrófilos/fisiologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Privação do Sono/metabolismoRESUMO
Gastrointestinal dysmotility frequently occurs in cancer cachexia and may result from damage to enteric innervation caused by oxidative stress, especially due to glutathione depletion. We assessed the effect of dietary supplementation with 20 g/kg l-glutamine (a glutathione precursor) on the intrinsic innervation of the enteric nervous system in healthy and Walker 256 tumor-bearing Wistar rats during the development of experimental cachexia (14 days), in comparison with non-supplemented rats, by using immunohistochemical methods and Western blotting. The total neural population and cholinergic subpopulation densities in the myenteric plexus, as well as the total population and VIPergic subpopulation in the submucosal plexus of the jejunum and ileum, were reduced in cachectic rats, resulting in adaptive morphometric alterations and an increase in vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression, suggesting a neuroplastic response. l-glutamine supplementation prevented decrease in myenteric neuronal density in the ileum, morphometric alterations in the neurons and nerve fibers (in both the plexuses of the jejunum and ileum), and the overexpression of VIP and CGRP. Cancer cachexia severely affected the intrinsic innervation of the jejunum and ileum to various degrees and this injury seems to be associated with adaptive neural plasticity. l-glutamine supplementation presented partial protective effects on the enteric innervation against cancer cachexia, possibly by attenuating oxidative stress.
Assuntos
Caquexia/complicações , Suplementos Nutricionais , Glutamina/administração & dosagem , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Neoplasias/complicações , Neurônios/patologia , Caquexia/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Neoplasias/patologiaRESUMO
The objective of this study was to investigate whether emphysema induced by elastase or papain triggers the same effects on skeletal muscle, related to oxidative stress and proteolysis, in hamsters. For this purpose, we evaluated pulmonary lesions, body weight, muscle loss, oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, total and oxidized glutathiones, chemiluminescence stimulated by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and carbonyl proteins), chymotrypsin-like and calpain-like proteolytic activities and muscle fibre cross-sectional area in the gastrocnemius muscles of emphysemic hamsters. Two groups of animals received different intratracheal inductions of experimental emphysema: by 40 mg/ml papain (EP) or 5.2 IU/100 g animal (EE) elastase (n = 10 animals/group). The control group received intratracheal instillation of 300 µl sterile NaCl 0.9%. Compared with the control group, the EP group had reduced muscle weight (18.34%) and the EE group had increased muscle weight (8.37%). Additionally, tert-butyl hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence, carbonylated proteins and chymotrypsin-like proteolytic activity were all elevated in the EP group compared to the CS group, while total glutathione was decreased compared to the EE group. The EE group showed more fibres with increased cross-sectional areas and increased calpain-like activity. Together, these data show that elastase and papain, when used to induce experimental models of emphysema, lead to different speeds and types of adaptation. These findings provide more information on choosing a suitable experimental model for studying skeletal muscle adaptations in emphysema.
Assuntos
Proteínas Musculares/metabolismo , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo , Elastase Pancreática , Papaína , Proteólise , Enfisema Pulmonar/induzido quimicamente , Adaptação Fisiológica , Animais , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Pulmão/patologia , Masculino , Mesocricetus , Músculo Esquelético/patologia , Músculo Esquelético/fisiopatologia , Tamanho do Órgão , Oxirredução , Carbonilação Proteica , Enfisema Pulmonar/metabolismo , Enfisema Pulmonar/patologia , Enfisema Pulmonar/fisiopatologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Chronic consumption of ethanol causes morphological and physiological changes in the reproductive system of mammals. Vitamin C has an antioxidant role in organisms by neutralizing the ROS (reactive oxygen species) produced by oxidizing agents and this vitamin has an important function in the male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether vitamin C could prevent or attenuate the alterations in the male reproductive system caused by ethanol consumption. To test this hypothesis, male rats were divided into three experimental groups and treated by gavage for 63 days. The ethanol (E) and ethanol+vitamin C (EC) groups received 2 g/kg of ethanol (25%v/v) daily. In addition to ethanol, the EC group received vitamin C at a dose of 100 mg/day, diluted in water. The control group (C) received only the vehicle. On the 64th experimental day, the animals were anesthetized and euthanized, and blood was collected for plasmatic hormonal analysis. The testis, epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles were removed and weighed. Sperm from the vas deferens was submitted to morphological and motility analysis. The testis and epididymis were used for oxidative stress and histopathological analysis, sperm count, morphometric analysis of the testis, and stereological analysis of the epididymis. The results showed that vitamin C has a protective effect in the testes of adult male rats, entirely normalizing the parameters of sperm count, spermatogenesis kinetics, lipid peroxidation levels, and sperm motility, as well as partially normalizing the histopathological damage in the testis, epididymis, and sperm morphology. Thus, we concluded that lipid peroxidation is a major mechanism by which ethanol affects the testes and sperm, whereas no plasmatic testosterone alterations were found.
Assuntos
Etanol/toxicidade , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Espermatozoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Testículo/efeitos dos fármacos , Testosterona/sangue , Animais , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/fisiologia , Masculino , Tamanho do Órgão , Distribuição Aleatória , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Contagem de Espermatozoides/métodos , Motilidade dos Espermatozoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Motilidade dos Espermatozoides/fisiologia , Espermatozoides/metabolismo , Espermatozoides/patologia , Testículo/metabolismo , Testículo/patologiaRESUMO
Reactive oxygen species oxidize proteins and modulate the proteasomal system in muscle-wasting cancer cachexia. On day 5 (D5), day 10 (D10), and day 14 (D14) after tumor implantation, skeletal muscle was evaluated. Carbonylated proteins and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were measured. Chemiluminescence was employed for lipid hydroperoxide estimation. Glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and total radical antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The proteasomal system was assessed by mRNA atrogin-1 expression. Increased muscle wasting, lipid hydroperoxide, and superoxide dismutase, and decreased glutathione levels and total radical antioxidant capacity, were found on D5 in accordance with increased mRNA atrogin-1 expression. All parameters were significantly modified in animals treated with α-tocopherol. The elevation in aldehylde levels and carbonylated proteins observed on D10 were reversed by α-tocopherol treatment. Oxidative stress may trigger signal transduction of the proteasomal system and cause protein oxidation. These pathways may be associated with the mechanism of muscle wasting that occurs in cancer cachexia.