title: The Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Induced by Acute Cadmium Exposure in Mice Testis.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is widely used in daily life and was recently recognized as a possible source of human toxicity due to its ability to accumulate in organs. Previous studies have shown that Cd exposure may cause testicular toxicity through oxidative stress and an inflammatory effect. Melatonin has been demonstrated to be an effective anti-oxidant and has an anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of the present study was to investigate the toxicological effects of Cd on reproduction in male mice and the potential protective action of melatonin against these adverse effects. Adult male mice were injected intraperitoneally with Cd at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight per day for seven consecutive days with or without melatonin pretreatment. Sex organ weight, sperm parameters including sperm quality, apoptosis, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, testicular morphology, serum sex hormone, inflammatory status, and oxidative stress were evaluated. The results showed that significant adverse effects were observed in the male reproductive system after Cd exposure, including alterations in sperm parameters, increased DNA damage, and sex hormone disturbance. Acute Cd exposure also significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, decreased glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and upregulated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), in the testis. In contrast, melatonin pretreatment significantly alleviated these toxic effects, and its mechanism may involve inhibiting MDA level, restoring GSH and SOD activities, and reducing the upregulation of TNF-α and IL-1β. Our data suggest that oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in Cd-induced toxicity in the male reproductive system and that co-administration of melatonin exerts a protective effect against Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Population and Family Planning, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing, 400020, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Renyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Population and Family Planning, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing, 400020, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lianbing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beibei District of Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau of Interpol Detachment, Chongqing, 400700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Population and Family Planning, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing, 400020, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuyou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Population and Family Planning, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing, 400020, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Letian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Population and Family Planning, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing, 400020, People's Republic of China. mamf123@163.com.
authors.forename: Mingfu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Institute of Population and Family Planning, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing, 400020, People's Republic of China. mamf123@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Cadmium; Inflammation; Male reproduction; Melatonin; Oxidative stress