Differences in the sperm metabolomes of smoking and nonsmoking men

Author(s):  
Kathrin M Engel ◽  
Sven Baumann ◽  
Janet Blaurock ◽  
Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk ◽  
Jürgen Schiller ◽  
...  

Abstract Currently, spermiogram analysis is the most relevant method used to clarify the potential infertility of a couple. However, in some cases, the reasons for infertility remain obscure. Smoking is among the factors that have been described to adversely affect male fertility. Smoking increases oxidative stress and thus promotes various pathological processes. Comparative studies, particularly those on metabolomic changes in sperm and seminal plasma caused by smoking, have not yet been published. Thus, the present pilot study aimed at the mass spectrometric characterization of the metabolomes of specimens from both smoking and nonsmoking subjects and the comparison of the evaluated data in terms of sperm apoptosis and spermiogram parameters. The results provided evidence that the conventional spermiogram is not altered in smokers compared to nonsmokers. However, a more careful investigation of sperm cells by metabolomic profiling reveals profound effects of smoking on sperm: first, nitrogen oxide synthase, a marker of oxidative stress, is activated. Second, the uptake of fatty acids into sperm mitochondria is reduced, leading to an impaired energy supply. Third, phenylalanine hydroxylation and tryptophan degradation, which are both indications of altered tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis, are reduced. Moreover, flow cytometry approaches indicated increased sperm caspase-3 activity, a sign of apoptosis. The present study clearly shows the negative effects of smoking on semen quality. Especially for idiopathic cases, metabolomic profiling can help to shed light on male sub- or infertility.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 578-586
Author(s):  
Areeg M. Abdelrazek ◽  
Shimaa A. Haredy

Background: Busulfan (Bu) is an anticancer drug with a variety of adverse effects for cancer patients. Oxidative stress has been considered as a common pathological mechanism and it has a key role in the initiation and progression of liver injury by Bu. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant impact of L-Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 and their protective role against oxidative stress damage in liver tissues. Methods and Material: Thirty-six albino rats were divided equally into six groups. G1 (con), received I.P. injection of DMSO plus 1 ml of distilled water daily by oral gavages; G2 (Bu), received I.P. injection of Bu plus 1 ml of the distilled water daily; G3 (L-Car), received 1 ml of L-Car orally; G4 (Bu + L-Car) received I.P. injection of Bu plus 1 ml of L-Car, G5 (CoQ10) 1 ml of CoQ10 daily; and G6 (Bu + CoQ10) received I.P. injection of Bu plus 1 ml of CoQ10 daily. Results: The recent data showed that Bu induced significant (P<0.05) elevation in serum ALT, AST, liver GSSG, NO, MDA and 8-OHDG, while showing significant (P<0.05) decrease in liver GSH and ATP. On the other hand, L-Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 ameliorated the negative effects prompted by Bu. Immunohistochemical expression of caspase-3 in liver tissues reported pathological alterations in Bu group while also showed significant recovery in L-Car more than CoQ10. Conclusion: L-Car, as well as CoQ10, can enhance the hepatotoxic effects of Bu by promoting energy production in oxidative phosphorylation process and by scavenging the free radicals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5995
Author(s):  
Chand Basha Davuljigari ◽  
Frederick Adams Ekuban ◽  
Cai Zong ◽  
Alzahraa A. M. Fergany ◽  
Kota Morikawa ◽  
...  

Acrylamide is a well characterized neurotoxicant known to cause neuropathy and encephalopathy in humans and experimental animals. To investigate the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in acrylamide-induced neuropathy, male C57Bl/6JJcl adult mice were exposed to acrylamide at 0, 200 or 300 ppm in drinking water and co-administered with subcutaneous injections of sulforaphane, a known activator of the Nrf2 signaling pathway at 0 or 25 mg/kg body weight daily for 4 weeks. Assessments for neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress as well as messenger RNA-expression analysis for Nrf2-antioxidant and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes were conducted. Relative to mice exposed only to acrylamide, co-administration of sulforaphane protected against acrylamide-induced neurotoxic effects such as increase in landing foot spread or decrease in density of noradrenergic axons as well as hepatic necrosis and hemorrhage. Moreover, co-administration of sulforaphane enhanced acrylamide-induced mRNA upregulation of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant proteins and suppressed acrylamide-induced mRNA upregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the cerebral cortex. The results demonstrate that activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway by co-treatment of sulforaphane provides protection against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity through suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation. Nrf2 remains an important target for the strategic prevention of acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 377
Author(s):  
Yunna Lee ◽  
Eunok Im

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The potential benefits of natural antioxidants derived from supplemental nutrients against CVDs are well known. Remarkably, natural antioxidants exert cardioprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress, increasing vasodilation, and normalizing endothelial dysfunction. Recently, considerable evidence has highlighted an important role played by the synergistic interaction between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in the maintenance of endothelial function. To provide a new perspective on the role of natural antioxidants against CVDs, we focused on microRNAs (miRNAs), which are important posttranscriptional modulators in human diseases. Several miRNAs are regulated via the consumption of natural antioxidants and are related to the regulation of oxidative stress by targeting eNOS and/or SIRT1. In this review, we have discussed the specific molecular regulation of eNOS/SIRT1-related endothelial dysfunction and its contribution to CVD pathologies; furthermore, we selected nine different miRNAs that target the expression of eNOS and SIRT1 in CVDs. Additionally, we have summarized the alteration of miRNA expression and regulation of activities of miRNA through natural antioxidant consumption.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Rezayian ◽  
Vahid Niknam ◽  
Hassan Ebrahimzadeh

The aim of this research was to gauge the alternations in the lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity in two cultivars (cv. RGS003 and cv. Sarigol) of canola under drought stress and drought tolerance amelioration by penconazole (PEN) and calcium (Ca). Plants were treated with different polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 15%) without or with PEN (15 mg L–1) and Ca (15 mM). The Ca treatment prevented the negative effects of drought on fresh weight (FW) in RGS003 and Sarigol at 5 and 15% PEG respectively. Ca and PEN/Ca treatments caused significant induction in the proline content in Sarigol at 15% PEG; the latter treatment was accompanied by higher glycine betaine (GB), lower malondialdehyde (MDA) and growth recovery. Hydrogen peroxide (HO2) content in Sarigol was proportional to the severity of drought stress and all PEN, Ca and PEN/Ca treatments significantly reduced the H2O2 content. PEN and PEN/Ca caused alleviation of the drought-induced oxidative stress in RGS003. RGS003 cultivar exhibited significantly higher antioxidative enzymes activity at most levels of drought, which could lead to its drought tolerance and lower MDA content. In contrast to that of Sarigol, the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased with Ca and PEN/Ca treatments in RGS003 under low stress. The application of PEN and Ca induced significantly P5CS and SOD expression in RGS003 under drought stress after 24 h. Overall, these data demonstrated that PEN and Ca have the ability to enhance the tolerance against the drought stress in canola plants.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096032712199944
Author(s):  
Mohamed IA Hassan ◽  
Fares EM Ali ◽  
Abdel-Gawad S Shalkami

Aim: Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a syndrome involved in allograft dysfunction. This work aimed to elucidate carvedilol (CAR) role in hepatic I/R injury. Methods: Male rats were allocated to Sham group, CAR group, I/R group and CAR plus I/R group. Rats subjected to hepatic ischemia for 30 minutes then reperfused for 60 minutes. Oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide synthases were measured in hepatic tissues. Results: Hepatocyte injury following I/R was confirmed by a marked increase in liver enzymes. Also, hepatic I/R increased the contents of malondialdehyde however decreased glutathione contents and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, hepatic I/R caused elevation of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) expression and inflammatory mediators levels such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-II. Hepatic I/R caused down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expressions. CAR treatment before hepatic I/R resulted in the restoration of liver enzymes. Administration of CAR caused a significant correction of oxidative stress and inflammation markers as well as modulates the expression of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Conclusions: CAR protects liver from I/R injury through reduction of the oxidative stress and inflammation, and modulates endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase expressions.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. C245-C252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junsuke Igarashi ◽  
Masashi Nishida ◽  
Shiro Hoshida ◽  
Nobushige Yamashita ◽  
Hiroaki Kosaka ◽  
...  

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) produced by cardiac inducible NO synthase (iNOS) on myocardial injury after oxidative stress were examined. Interleukin-1β induced cultured rat neonatal cardiac myocytes to express iNOS. After induction of iNOS,l-arginine enhanced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in myocytes was attenuated by elevated iNOS activity and by an NO donor, S-nitroso- N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP). Although NO production by iNOS did not induce myocardial injury, NO augmented release of lactate dehydrogenase from myocyte cultures after addition of H2O2(0.1 mM, 1 h). Inhibition of iNOS with Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester ameliorated the effects of NO-enhancing treatments on myocardial injury and GPX activity. SNAP augmented the myocardial injury induced by H2O2. Inhibition of GPX activity with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide for GPX mRNA increased myocardial injury by H2O2. Results suggest that the induction of cardiac iNOS promotes myocardial injury due to oxidative stress via inactivation of the intrinsic antioxidant enzyme, GPX.


Author(s):  
Theresa Chikopela ◽  
Douglas C. Heimburger ◽  
Longa Kaluba ◽  
Pharaoh Hamambulu ◽  
Newton Simfukwe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Endothelial function is dependent on the balance between vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory substances. The endothelium ability to produce nitric oxide is one of the most crucial mechanisms in regulating vascular tone. An increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase contributes to endothelial dysfunction in overweight persons, while oxidative stress contributes to the conversion of nitric oxide to peroxynitrite (measured as nitrotyrosine in vivo) in underweight persons. The objective of this study was to elucidate the interaction of body composition and oxidative stress on vascular function and peroxynitrite. This was done through an experimental design with three weight groups (underweight, normal weight and overweight), with four treatment arms in each. Plasma nitrotyrosine levels were measured 15–20 h post lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, as were aortic ring tension changes. Acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) challenges were used to observe endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vascular relaxation after pre-constriction of aortic rings with phenylephrine. Results Nitrotyrosine levels in saline-treated rats were similar among the weight groups. There was a significant increase in nitrotyrosine levels between saline-treated rats and those treated with the highest lipopolysaccharide doses in each of the weight groups. In response to ACh challenge, Rmax (percentage reduction in aortic tension) was lowest in overweight rats (112%). In response to SNP, there was an insignificantly lower Rmax in the underweight rats (106%) compared to the normal weight rats (112%). Overweight rats had a significant decrease in Rmax (83%) in response to SNP, signifying involvement of a more chronic process in tension reduction changes. A lower Rmax accompanied an increase in peroxynitrite after acetylcholine challenge in all weight groups. Conclusions Endothelial dysfunction, observed as an impairment in the ability to reduce tension, is associated with increased plasma peroxynitrite levels across the spectrum of body mass. In higher-BMI rats, an additional role is played by vascular smooth muscle in the causation of endothelial dysfunction.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (5) ◽  
pp. H2093-H2101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baptiste Kurtz ◽  
Helene B. Thibault ◽  
Michael J. Raher ◽  
John R. Popovich ◽  
Sharon Cawley ◽  
...  

Insulin resistance (IR) and systemic hypertension are independently associated with heart failure. We reported previously that nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) has a beneficial effect on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function after pressure-overload in mice. The aim of our study was to investigate the interaction of IR and NOS3 in pressure-overload-induced LV remodeling and dysfunction. Wild-type (WT) and NOS3-deficient (NOS3−/−) mice were fed either a standard diet (SD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce IR. After 9 days of diet, mice underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC). LV structure and function were assessed serially using echocardiography. Cardiomyocytes were isolated, and levels of oxidative stress were evaluated using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Cardiac mitochondria were isolated, and mitochondrial respiration and ATP production were measured. TAC induced LV remodeling and dysfunction in all mice. The TAC-induced decrease in LV function was greater in SD-fed NOS3−/− mice than in SD-fed WT mice. In contrast, HFD-fed NOS3−/− developed less LV remodeling and dysfunction and had better survival than did HFD-fed WT mice. Seven days after TAC, oxidative stress levels were lower in cardiomyocytes from HFD-fed NOS3−/− than in those from HFD-fed WT. Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and mitochondrial inhibitors (rotenone and 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone) decreased oxidative stress levels in cardiomyocytes from HFD-fed WT mice. Mitochondrial respiration was altered in NOS3−/− mice but did not worsen after HFD and TAC. In contrast with its protective role in SD, NOS3 increases LV adverse remodeling after pressure overload in HFD-fed, insulin resistant mice. Interactions between NOS3 and mitochondria may be responsible for increased oxidative stress levels in HFD-fed WT mice hearts.


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