title: L-carnitine protects against testicular dysfunction caused by gamma irradiation in mice.
abstract: This study was conducted on mice to evaluate the radioprotective role of L-carnitine against γ-ray irradiation-induced testicular damage. Adult male mice were exposed to whole body irradiation at a total dose of 1 Gy. Radiation exposure was continued 24 h a day (0.1 Gy/day) throughout the 10 days exposure period either in the absence and/or presence of L-carnitine at an i.p. dose of 10 mg/kg body weight/day. Results revealed that γ-rays irradiation suppressed the expression of ABP and CYP450SCC mRNA, whereas treatment with L-carnitine prior and throughout γ-rays irradiation exposure inhibited this suppression. Treatment with γ-ray irradiation or L-carnitine down-regulated expression of aromatase mRNA. With combined treatment, L-carnitine significantly normalized aromatase expression. γ-Ray irradiation up-regulated expression of FasL and Cyclin D2 mRNA, while L-carnitine inhibited these up-regulations. Results also showed that γ-ray-irradiation up-regulated TNF-α, IL1-β and IFN-γ mRNA expressions compared to either controls or the L-carnitine treated group. Moreover, γ-irradiation greatly reduced serum testosterone levels, while L-carnitine, either alone or in combination with irradiation, significantly increased serum testosterone levels compared to controls. In addition, γ-irradiation induced high levels of sperm abnormalities (43%) which were decreased to 12% in the presence of L-carnitine. In parallel with these findings, histological examination showed that γ-irradiation induced severe tubular degenerative changes, which were reduced by L-carnitine pre-treatment. These results clarified the immunostimulatory effects of L-carnitine and its radioprotective role against testicular injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Egypt; Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Mohamed
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kaferelsheikh University, Egypt; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Zein Shaban
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia; Department of Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alkafafy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kaferelsheikh University, Egypt. Electronic address: elshazlysamir@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Samir Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: El-Shazly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D002331:Carnitine
keywords: Irradiation; Mice; Testis; l-Carnitine; γ-Rays