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Query: UNIPROT:P56851 (epididymal)
 11,273 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective role of vitamins on PCB (Aroclor 1254)-induced spermiotoxicity using qualitative, quantitative and biochemical approaches. Adult male albino rats of Wistar strain were randomly divided into four groups, each group consists of six animals. The control group received corn oil, the second group of rats were administered Aroclor 1254 at a dose of 2 mg/kg bw/day intraperitoneally for 30 days. The third group of rats were treated with Aroclor 1254 along with alpha-tocopherol (50 mg/kg of bw/day) for 30 days, while the fourth group of rats were treated with Aroclor 1254 along with ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg bw/day) orally for 30 days. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, control and experimental animals were killed by decapitation. Sperm was collected from the cauda epididymal region and its count and motility were detected. Sperm was sonicated and used for the estimation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [hydroxyl radical (HO(*)) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))], non-enzymic antioxidants [alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione (GSH)], activity of enzymic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)] and lipid peroxidation (LPO). The result of this experiment shows that PCB significantly decreases the level of alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and GSH and the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST with elevated levels of ROS and LPO. In addition, decreased epididymal sperm motility and count were observed. Simultaneous supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid restored these parameters to that of normal range. In conclusion, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid exhibited protective effect on sperm by inhibiting PCB-induced ROS generation.
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PMID:Ameliorative effect of vitamins (alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid) on PCB (Aroclor 1254) induced oxidative stress in rat epididymal sperm. 1726 75

Gallic acid (GA) is a naturally abundant plant phenolic compound in the human diet and is known to reduce the risk of disease. In this study, the anti-obesity effect of GA in an animal model of diet-induced obesity was investigated. Obesity was induced in male Wistar rats by feeding them a high-fat diet (HFD). GA was given as a supplement at the levels of 50 and 100 mg/kg rat for a period of 10 weeks. The results showed that the body weight, organ weight of the liver and adipose tissue weights of peritoneal and epididymal tissues in the HFD+GA groups were significantly decreased as compared with the HFD group. Serum TAG, phospholipid, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, insulin and leptin levels in the HFD+GA groups were significantly decreased as compared with the HFD group. Histological study showed that the lipid droplets of rats with HFD+GA diets were significantly smaller than those with HFD diets. Hepatic TAG and cholesterol levels in HFD+GA groups were significantly decreased as compared with the HFD group. Moreover, the consumption of GA reduced oxidative stress and GSSG content and enhanced the levels of glutathione, GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase and GSH S-transferase in the hepatic tissue of rats with HFD-induced obesity. These results demonstrate that intake of GA can be beneficial for the suppression of HFD-induced dyslipidaemia, hepatosteatosis and oxidative stress in rats.
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PMID:Effect of gallic acid on high fat diet-induced dyslipidaemia, hepatosteatosis and oxidative stress in rats. 1747 86

During epididymal transit, spermatozoa acquire new proteins. Some of these newly acquired proteins behave as integral membrane proteins, including glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. This suggests that the secreted epididymal proteins are transferred to spermatozoa by an unusual mechanism. Within the epididymal lumen, spermatozoa interact with small membranous vesicles named epididymosomes. Many proteins are associated with epididymosomes and the protein composition of these vesicles varies along the excurrent duct and differs from soluble intraluminal proteins. Some epididymosome-associated proteins have been identified and their functions in sperm maturation hypothesized. These include P25b, a zona pellucida binding protein, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, enzymes of the polyol pathway, HE5/CD52, type 5 glutathione peroxidase, and SPAM1 or PH-20. The electrophoretic patterns of proteins associated to epididymosomes are complex and some of these proteins are transferred to defined surface domains of epididymal spermatozoa. Epididymosomes collected from different epididymal segments interact differently with spermatozoa. This protein transfer from epididymosomes to spermatozoa is time-dependent, temperature-dependent and pH-dependent, and is more efficient in the presence of zinc. Some proteins are segregated to lipid raft domains of epididymosomes and are selectively transferred to raft domains of the sperm plasma membrane. Some evidence is presented showing that epididymosomes are secreted in an apocrine manner by the epididymal epithelial cells. In conclusion, epididymosomes are small membranous vesicles secreted in an apocrine manner in the intraluminal compartment of the epididymis and play a major role in the acquisition of new proteins by the maturing spermatozoa.
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PMID:Epididymosomes are involved in the acquisition of new sperm proteins during epididymal transit. 1758 85

The effect of tacrolimus on epididymal biochemical markers was investigated following single daily subcutaneous doses of 1, 2 and 3 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 2 weeks to male adult rats. The tacrolimus 2 and 3 mg kg(-1) day(-1) groups showed a significant and dose-dependent decrease in sperm count in the cauda epididymis. Among tissue levels of L-carnitine, alpha-glucosidase and acid phosphatase, only L-carnitine level in the cauda epididymis was significantly reduced in the tacrolimus 3 mg kg(-1)day(-1) group. However, no significant difference was seen in the plasma L-carnitine. It was suggested that lowering of L-carnitine in the cauda epididymis was attributable to the adverse effect on epididymal function to transport and/or concentrate L-carnitine. Since L-carnitine has been reported to have antioxidant potential, antioxidant defense enzymes in the cauda epididymis such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were evaluated. The results showed no significant differences in activities, confirming that the treatment with tacrolimus did not affect the activities of these antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, this study indicates that tacrolimus induces a decrease in L-carnitine level in the cauda epididymis, which is probably caused by impairment of epididymal function to transport and/or concentrate L-carnitine from bloodstream, and a decrease in sperm count.
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PMID:Effect of tacrolimus on the cauda epididymis in rats: analysis of epididymal biochemical markers or antioxidant defense enzymes. 1798 78

Mercury is one of the most investigated natural elements and potential contaminants in the environment. Antioxidants have long been known to reduce the free radical-induced oxidative damage. Considering the antioxidant properties of melatonin, this study was aimed to evaluate the effect of melatonin on antioxidant system of rat epididymal sperm in vitro. Sperm samples were dispersed in RPS medium (pH 6.9) and incubated with mercury in the form of mercuric chloride (MC) at three different concentrations (1 microM, 10 microM, 100 microM), melatonin (MLT) at a concentration (100 microM) and mercuric chloride+melatonin (100 microM each) for 3h at 32 degrees C. Sperm viability and motility were assessed every 30 min during the 3-h incubation period. An aliquot of sperm sample was homogenised, centrifuged and used for the assay of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, TBARS assay to detect lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide generation assay. Samples treated with mercury showed a dose-dependent decrease in motility while there was no significant decrease in sperm viability. In mercury-incubated sperm, the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase decreased significantly while TBARS levels and H2O2 generation were increased in a dose-dependent manner. Co-incubation of sperm with mercury and melatonin exhibited no significant changes in the levels of motility, viability and antioxidant indices as compared to untreated controls. The results suggest that graded doses of mercury elicit depletion of antioxidant defense system in sperm without altering the viability and melatonin treatment was found to significantly inhibit oxidative damage caused by mercury.
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PMID:Antioxidative potential of melatonin against mercury induced intoxication in spermatozoa in vitro. 1832 42

Present study examines effects of curcumin and vitamin E on oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant defence enzymes and oxidized (GSSG) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in testis of L-thyroxine (T4)-induced hyperthyroid rats. The oxidative stress in T4-treated rat testis was evident from elevation in oxidative stress parameters such as lipid peroxide and protein carbonyl contents, decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. This is accompanied with decrease in number and mortality of epididymal sperms. When the T4-treated rats were fed with vitamin E and/or curcumin, the lipid peroxide and protein carbonyl contents in crude homogenates of testes decreased to normal level. Treatment of curcumin and/or vitamin E to T4-treated rats resulted in elevation of SOD level in postmitochondrial fraction (PMF) and mitochondrial fraction (MF) and CAT in PMF, with decreased GPx activity in MF. However, curcumin or vitamin E was unable to change GPx activity alone but in together they elevated the GPx in PMF of T4-treated rat testis. Both the antioxidants are incapable of producing significant changes in GSH:GSSG ratio of PMF of T4-treated rats. In MF, GSH:GSSG ratio elevated and decreased respectively by curcumin and vitamin E treatments to T4-treated rats, however, in together these antioxidants caused an elevated GSH:GSSG ratio with a value less than when vitamin E given alone to T4-treated rats. Vitamin E not the curcumin elevates total sperm count and percentage of live sperm impaired by hyperthyroid state. In summary, both vitamin E and curcumin are efficient in protecting testis from oxidative stress generated by T4 mainly in restoring antioxidant enzymes to the level of euthyroid animals up to some extent but vitamin E is more efficient than curcumin.
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PMID:Protective effects of vitamin E and curcumin on L-thyroxine-induced rat testicular oxidative stress. 1872 6

Dietary fat is one of the most important environmental factors associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the antiobesity effects of rutin (R) and o-coumaric acid (oCA) were investigated. Wistar rats were divided into normal and obese groups, and obese rats were prefed a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 40% beef tallow for 4 weeks. Then, R and oCA were given as a supplement to obese rats at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, for a period of 8 weeks. The results showed that body, liver organ, and adipose tissue weights of peritoneal and epididymal fat pads in the HFD+ R and HFD+oCA groups were significantly decreased as compared to those in the HFD group. Serum lipid profiles, insulin, and leptin were significantly decreased in the HFD+ R (high dose, HD) and HFD+oCA (HD) groups as compared to those in the HFD group. Hepatic triacylglycerol and cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in the HFD+ R (HD) and HFD+oCA (HD) groups as compared to those in the HFD group. Moreover, the consumption of R and oCA reduced oxidative stress and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) content, and enhanced the levels of glutathione (GSH), GSH peroxidase (GPx), GSH reductase (GRd), and GSH S-transferase (GST) in the hepatic tissue of rats with HFD-induced obesity. These results demonstrate that intake of R and oCA can be beneficial for the suppression of high-fat-diet-induced dyslipidemia, hepatosteatosis, and oxidative stress in rats.
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PMID:Phenolic compounds rutin and o-coumaric acid ameliorate obesity induced by high-fat diet in rats. 1911 47

The aim of the current study is to investigate the therapeutic and preventive effects of 1alpha, 25dihydroxyvitaminD3 (1,25 (OH)2 D3) and Afuga iva (AI) extract on diabetes toxicity in rats testes. Thus diabetic rats were treated with 1alpha, 25dihydroxyvitaminD3 or Ajuga iva extract as both therapeutic and preventive treatments on diabetes toxicity in rats testes. Our results showed that diabetes induced a decrease in testosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels in testes and plasma. Besides, a fall in testicular antioxidant capacity appeared by a decrease in both antioxidant (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities) and nonenzymatic antioxidant (copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) levels). All theses changes enhanced testicular toxicity (increase in testicular aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and the lipid peroxidation and triglyceride (TG) levels). In addition, a decrease in testicular total cholesterol (TCh) level was observed in diabetic rats testes. All the changes lead to a decrease in the total number and mobility of epididymal spermatozoa. The administration of 1alpha,25dihydroxyvitaminD3 and Ajuga iva extract three weeks before and after diabetes induction interfered and prevented diabetes toxicity in the reproductive system. 1,25 (OH)2 D3 and Ajuga iva extract blunted all changes observed in diabetic rats. To sum up, the data suggested that 1,25 (OH)2 D3 and Ajuga iva extract have a protective effect on alloxan-induced damage in reproductive system by enhancing the testosterone and 17beta-estradiol levels, consequently protecting from oxidative stress, cellular toxicity and maintaining the number and motility of spermatozoids.
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PMID:Inhibitory effects of 1alpha, 25dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Ajuga iva extract on oxidative stress, toxicity and hypo-fertility in diabetic rat testes. 1924 37

The epididymis is an important organ in the male genital system, which is responsible for the maturation, transportation and storage of spermatozoa. The proper function of the epididymis is closely related with its robust physiological metabolism, and free radicals are inevitably produced as a consequence. An excess of free radicals would lead to the oxidative stress of the epididymis, damage the sperm membrane and DNA, seriously affect sperm maturation and result in male infertility. This article reviews the mechanism of epididymal oxidative stress in energy metabolism and inflammatory reaction as well as the roles of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase, glutathione and thioredoxin in the antioxidant process, offering a new insight into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
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PMID:[Update of the studies on epididymal oxidative stress]. 1932 79

We studied the effects of elevated heavy metal uptake on the sperm quality and the antioxidant mechanisms of sperm and testis of red deer from a Pb mining area in Spain. Testis, liver and bone of red deer from mining (n = 21) and control (n = 20) areas were obtained from hunters and analyzed for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As and Se. Testes were weighed and measured. Motility, acrosome integrity and viability and functionality of membrane were evaluated in epididymal spermatozoa. Lipid peroxidation, total glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were studied in testis and spermatozoa. Deer from mined areas showed less Cu in testis, a higher testis mass and size and reduced spermatozoa membrane viability and acrosome integrity. Effects on sperm quality were associated to decreased Cu and increased Se in testis, and to decreases in the activity of SOD and GPX in testis and spermatozoa.
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PMID:Reduced sperm quality in relation to oxidative stress in red deer from a lead mining area. 1942 22


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