Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Curcumin Protects Mice Testicular Tissue against the Adverse Effects of Sodium Arsenite: A Stereological Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Malek Soleimani Mehranjani 1
Najmeh Hatamikia 2
Samira Naderi noreini 2

1 Professor of Histology and Embryology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran

2 Masters of Developmental Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran

Abstract
Background & Aims: Sodium arsenite, an environmental pollutant, produces free radicals with harmful effects on the reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin, as a strong antioxidant, on the testis tissue and spermatogenic cell population in mice treated with sodium arsenite.
Methods: In this experimental study, Adult male NMRI mice were randomly divided into the 5 groups (n=6): control, sodium arsenite (5mg/kg/day), curcumin (15mg/kg/day), sodium arsenite+curcumin and DMSO as vehicle. After 5 weeks of treatment (through intraperitoneal ingection), animals right testis were removed, fixed, sectioned, stained (using heiden hain azan method) and stereologically studied. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tuckey's test and the means were considered significantly different at p<0.05.‌
Result: A significant decrease in the mean volume (P<0.05) and diameter (P<0.001) of seminiferous tubules, height of the germinal epithelium (P<0.01), thickness of the basement membrane (P<0.001) and the number of spermatocytes and spermatids (p<0.001) and a significant increase in the mean volume of the interstitial tissue was observed in the sodium arsenite group compared to the control ones (p<0.05). The above parameters were significantly compensated to the control level in the sodium arsenite+curcumin group.
Conclusions: Curcumin can compensate the harmful effects of sodium arsenite on the testicular tissue and spermatogenic cell populations in adult mice. Therefor, it is suggested as a supplement in the case of arsenite intoxication.

Keywords

curcumin
Mice
Sodium arsenate
stereology
Testis
  1. Hillie T, Hlophe M. Nanotechnology and the challenge of clean water. Nat Nanotechnol 2007; 2 (11): 663-4.
  2. El-Demerdash FM, Yousef MI, Radwan FM. Ameliorating effect of curcumin on sodium arsenite-induced oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation in different rat organs. Food Chem Toxicol 2009;47(1): 249-254.
  3. Jana K, Jana S, Samanta PK. Effects of chronic exposure to sodium arsenite on hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular activities in adult rats: possible an estrogenic mode of action. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2006; 16(4):4-9.
  4. Vijaya M, Reddy B, Sudheer SD, Pradesh T.A, Reddy P.S, Reddy S.H and Karthik A. Transplacental and Lactational Exposure of Mice to Arsenic: Effect on Body and Organ Weights with Special Reference to Male Reproductive Organs. JRI 2012; 3(1): 17-21.
  5. Liu S.X, Athar M, Lippai I, Waldren C, Hei T.K. Induction of oxyradicals by arsenic: implication for mechanism of genotoxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2001; 98(4):1643-8.
  6. Kuladip J, Subarna J, Prabhat Kumar S. Effect of chronic exposure to sodium arsenite on hypothalamo- pituitary- testicular activities in adult rats: possible an estrogenic mode of action. RBEJ 2006; 4(1): 9.
  7. Soleimani M.M, Taefi R. The protective role of vitamin E on the testicular tissue in rats exposed to sodium arsenite during the prenatal stage till sex maturity: A stereological analysis. IJRM 2012; 10(6): 571-80.
  8. Akram M, Shahab-uddin, Ahmed A, Usmanghani k, Hannan A, Mohiuddin E, et al. Curcuma longa and curcumin: a review article. ROM J BIOL PLANT BIOL2010; 55(2): 65-70.
  9. Noorafshan A, Karbalay-doust S, Valizadeh A, Aliabadi E, Mirkhani H. Ameliorative Effects of curcumin on the seminiferous epithelium in Metronidazole-treated mice: A Stereological Study. Toxicol Pathol 2010; 38(3):366-71.
  10. Biswas J, Roy S, Mukherjee S, Sinha D, Roy M. Indian spice curcumin may be an effective strategy to combat the genotoxicity of arsenic in Swiss albino mice. APJCP 2010; 11(1); 239-47.
  11. Mandarim-de-Lacerda, C.A. Stereological tools in biomedical research. An Acad Bras Cienc 2003; 75(4): 469-86s.
  12. Howard V, Reed M. Unbiased Stereology: Three-Dimentional Measurment in Microscopy. Bios Scientific Publishers J Microsc 1998; 1(1): 1-93.
  13. Hoseini L, Roozbeh J, Sagheb M, Karbalay-Doust S, Noorafshan A. Nandrolone decanoate increases the volume but not the length of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the mouse kidney. Micron 2009; 40(2); 226-30.
  14. Dalgaard M, Pilegaard K, Ladefoged O. In utero exposure to diethylstilboestrol or 4-n-nonylphenol in rats: number of sertoli cells, diameter and length of seminiferous tubules estimated by stereological methods. Pharmacol Toxicol 2002; 90(2):59-65.
  15. Ferrando RE, Nyengaard JR, Hays SR, Fahy JV, Woodruff PG. Applying stereology to measure thickness of the basement membrane zone in bronchial biopsy specimens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003; 112(6):1243-5.
  16. Peng B, Zhang RD, Dai XS, Deng XZ, Wan Y, Yang ZW. Quantitative (stereological) study of the effects of vasectomy on spermatogenesis in rhesus monkeys (Macacamulatta). Reproduction 2003; 124(6): 847-56.
  17. das Neves RN, Carvalho F, Carvalho M, Fernandes E, Soares E, de Bastos ML, de Pereira ML. Protective activity of hesperidin and lipoic acid against sodium arsenite acute toxicity in mice, Toxicol Pathol 2004; 32(5):527-35.
  18. Li Y, Wang M, Piao F, Wang X. Subchronic exposure to arsenic inhibits spermatogenesis and downregulates the expression of Ddx3y in testis and epididymis of mice. Toxicol Sci 2012; 128(2): 482-9.
  19. Kaushal P, Dhar P, Shivaprasad SM, Mehra RD. Postnatal exposure to sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) induces long lasting effects in rat Ttestes. Toxicol Int 2012; 19(2): 215-22.
  20. Ahmad I, Hussain T. Arsenic induced microscopic changes in rat testis. Professional Med J 2008; 15(2): 287-1.
  21. Raleigh D, O'Donnell L, Southwick GJ, de Kretser DM, McLachlan RI. Stereological analysis of the human testis after vasectomy indicates impairment of spermatogenic efficiency with increasing obstructive interval. Fertil Steril 2004; 81(6):1595-603.
  22. Soleimani M, Hemadi M. The effects of sodium arsenite on the testis structure and sex hormones in vasectomised rat. IJRM 2007; 5(3):127-33.
  23. Lirdi LC, Stumpp T, Sasso-Cerri E, Miraglia SM. Amifostine Protective Effect on Cisplatin-Treated Rat Testis. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2008; 291(7):797-808.
  24. Chinoy NJ, Tewaria K, Jhala DD. Fluoride and or arsenic toxicity in mice testis with formatin of giant cell and subsequent recover bye some antidotes. Fluoride 2004; 37(3):172-84.
  25. Uygur R, Aktas C, Caglar V, Uygur E, Erdogan H, Ozen OA. Protective effects of melatonin against arsenic-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in rat testes, Toxicol Ind Health 2016; 32(5): 848-59.
  26. De Souza Predes F, Diamante MA, Dolder H. Testis response to low doses of cadmium in Wistar rats. Int J Exp Pathol 2010; 91(2):125-31.
  27. Kovacevic K, Budefeld T, Majdic G. Reduced seminiferous tubule diameter in Mice neonatally exposed to perfume. Slovenian Vet. Res 2006; 43(4):177-83.
  28. Bustos-Obregón E, Poblete D, Catriao R, Fernandes FH. Protective Role of Melatonin in Mouse Spermatogenesis Induced by Sodium Arsenite. Int J Morphol 2013; 31(3):849-56.
  29. Karafakioglu YS, Aslan R. Taurine Prevents Nonylphenol-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats. Javaa 2010; 9(1):37-43.
  30. Khan S. Telangb AG, Malik JK. Arsenic-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and alterations in testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in wistar rats: ameliorative effect of curcumin. WJPP 2013; 2(3): 33-48.
  31. Aydos K, Guven M.­C, Can B, Ergun A. Nicotine toxicity to the ultrastructure of the testis in rats. BJU Int 2001; 88(6): 622-6.
  32. Sanghamitra S, Hazra Jb, Upadhyay SNb, Singh RKb and Chowdhury AR. Arsenic induced toxicity on testicular tissue of mice. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2008; 52(1): 84-90.
  33. Blanco-Rodriguez J, Martinez- Garcia C. Apoptosis precedes detachment of germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium after hormone suppression by short-term oestradiol treatment of rats. Int J Androl 1998; 21(2):109-15.
  34. Morakinyo AO, Achema PU, Adegoke OA. Effect of Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) on Sodium Arsenite-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats. Ajbrui 2010; 13(1): 39 - 45.
  35. Elshaari FA, Fatum AE, Sheriff D. Spermatozoa-an unique representation of Oxygen-Antioxidant paradox. Acta Medica Medianae 2010; 49(1):48-53.
  36. Singh P, Deora K, Sankhla V, Mogra P. Curcumin rendered protection against cadmium chloride induced testicular damage in Swiss albino mice, JCellMolBiol 2012; 10(2): 31-8.

 

 

Home

Editorial Board

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Guide for Reviewers

Contact Us