title: Protective effects of polyunsatutared fatty acids supplementation against testicular damage induced by intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) induces changes in the redox status and structure in rat testis. These effects may be present in people at high altitudes, such as athletes and miners. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can be effective in counteracting these oxidative modifications due to their antioxidants properties. The aim of the work was to test whether PUFA supplementation attenuates oxidative damage in testis by reinforcing the antioxidant defense system. The animals were divided into four groups (7 rats per group): normobaric normoxia (~750 tor; pO2 156 mmHg; Nx); Nx + PUFA, supplemented with PUFA (DHA: EPA = 3:1; 0.3 g kg(-1) of body weight per day); hypoxic hypoxia (~428 tor; pO2 90 mmHg; Hx) and, Hx + PUFA. The hypoxic groups were exposed in 4 cycles to 96 h of HH followed by 96 h of normobaric normoxia for 32 days. Total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) in plasma and reduced (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio, tissue lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and antioxidant enzymes activity were assessed at the end of the study in testis. Also, SIRTUIN 1 and HIF-1 protein expression in testis were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IHH increased lipid peroxidation in plasma and HIF-1 protein levels in testis. In addition, IHH reduced FRAP levels in plasma, antioxidant enzymes activities and SIRTUIN 1 protein levels in testis. PUFA supplementation attenuated these effects, inducing the increases in FRAP, in the antioxidant enzymes activity and HIF-1 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the IHH model induces a prooxidant status in plasma and testis. The molecular protective effect of PUFA may involve the induction of an antioxidant mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Pathophysiology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. rodrigouch@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rodrigo L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile. andrea.zepeda.p@gmail.com.|Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580 - Bloco 16, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil. andrea.zepeda.p@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrea B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Zepeda
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile. s.short01@ufromail.cl.
authors.forename: Stefania E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Short
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile. efigueroa@uct.cl.|School of Aquaculture, Catholic University of Temuco, Faculty of Natural Resources, Temuco, Chile. efigueroa@uct.cl.
authors.forename: Elías
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Developmental Biology Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. dreduardobustos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bustos-Obregon
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile. jorge.farias@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Jorge G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Farías
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated