title: D-Aspartic acid induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in testis of prepubertal rats.
abstract: Previously we demonstrated the potential of D-aspartic acid (D-Asp), an acidic amino acid to induce oxidative response in prepubertal rat testis in vitro. In the present study, we determined the extent of oxidative stress in the testis of prepubertal rats that were administered D-Asp (100 and 500 mg/kg bw/d, i.p. 7 days). D-Asp treatment significantly elevated the levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and hydroperoxide in cytosol and mitochondria of testis, which were accompanied by enhanced glutathione levels, elevated activities of glutathione-dependent enzymes and catalase suggesting a state of oxidative stress. Further, the activities of D-aspartate oxidase and 3beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase were elevated in the testis. The testis mitochondria of D-Asp-treated rats showed altered citric acid and complex enzyme activities, reduction in membrane potential, increased permeability and intracellular Ca(2+) levels. Collectively, these findings suggest the potential of D-Asp to induce oxidative perturbations in the testis of prepubertal rats and this mechanism may in part be responsible for the observed physiological effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mysore 570020, India.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Chandrashekar
authors.lastname: Muralidhara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001224:Aspartic Acid