Effects of chrysin in cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in the rat; role of multi-pathway regulation

Background Cadmium (Cd) is a strong toxic agent and causes serious damage to testicular tissues. Chrysin (CHR) is a natural flavonoid with many effective properties, especially antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. The current study describes new evidence for the ameliorative effects of CHR on oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy and inflammation pathways in Cd-induced testicular tissue toxicity. Methods Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, control, Cd, CHR, Cd + CHR25, and Cd + CHR50. Cd was administered alone at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight or in combination with CHR 25 mg/kg and CHR 50 mg/kg for 7 days. Cd and CHR were administered orally. Biochemical, molecular, and histological methods were used to investigate inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and oxidant pathways in testicular tissue. Results Cd increased lipid peroxidation, JAK-2/STAT-3 levels, inflammation- related NF-kappa B, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS levels, AKT-2, FOXO1, Bax, Apaf-1 and Caspase-3 levels, autophagic Beclin-1, LC3A and LC3B. The Cd also caused a decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and GSH levels, antiapoptotic Bcl-2 levels. CHR, on the other hand, had the opposite effect of all these Cd-induced changes. Conclusions Overall, the data of this study indicate that testicular damage associated with Cd toxicity could be ameliorated by CHR administration.

Journal

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS

Year

2023

Volume

50

Issue

10

Pages

8305-8318

ISSN

0301-4851

eISSN

1573-4978

DOI

10.1007/s11033-023-08715-8

WoS UID

WOS:001051788000002