title: Effects of lipoic Acid on acrylamide induced testicular damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acrylamide is very toxic to various organs and associated with significant increase of oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidants. Alpha-lipoic acid enhances cellular antioxidant defense capacity, thereby protecting cells from oxidative stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of alpha-lipoic acid on the oxidative damage induced by acrylamide in testicular and epididymal tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty adult male rats were divided into four groups (10 rats each). Control group; acrylamide treated group administered acrylamide 0.05% (w/v) in drinking water for 21 days; alpha-lipoic acid group received basal diet supplemented with 1% alpha-lipoic acid and forth group was exposed to acrylamide and treated with alpha-lipoic acid at the same doses and treatment regimen mentioned before.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The administration of acrylamide resulted in significant elevation in testicular and epididymal malondialdehyde level (MDA) and significant reduction in the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR). Also, acrylamide significantly reduced serum total testosterone and progesterone but increased estradiol (E2) levels. Treatment with alpha-lipoic acid prior to acrylamide induced protective effects and attenuated these biochemical changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to possess antioxidant properties offering promising efficacy against oxidative stress induced by acrylamide administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebda
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Shereen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gaafar
keywords: Acrylamide; lipoic acid; oxidative stress; testis; testosterone