The effect of Alpha-lipoic acid in glyphosate treated granulosa cells on the human folliculogenesis genes
Abstract Pesticides have a wide range of infertility in female reproductive. GLP is the most common herbicide used worldwide. The present study tended to evaluate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on expression of folliculogenesis genes in human granulosa cells (GCs) treated with glyphosate. In this study, GC samples were taken from infertile male patients who had tubal factors and received ICSI or IVF treatment for the first time. The medium used to culture cells was DMEM-F12 containing FBS 10%, penicillin 1%, and streptomycin 1%. The cells were treated with glyphosate (GLP) (250 µg/ml), ALA (50 µg/ml), and their mixture (250 GLP + 50 ALA) for 24 hr. The FoxO1, NOX4, Vnn1, and STAR gene expression in GCs was determined by real-time PCR. Exposure to GLP decreased gene expression Vnn1 and STAR in the GCs, while in comparison to control group, FOXO1 and NOX4 expression insignificantly increased. Further, ALA treatment decreased FOXO1, NOX4, in the GCs, and increased VNN1 and STAR gene expression. Transcriptional expression of FoxO1, NOX4 and STAR in GCs also decreased in their combinations (GLY + ALA). At the same time, the level of Vnn1 mRNA in GCs was increased. The findings showed that exposure to GLP alters the morphological structure of GCs and the expression of follicogenic genes, leading to dysfunction of the reproductive system. Moreover, the results showed that cell characteristics were preserved efficiently in human GCs exposed to ALA as an antioxidant.