title: Disruption of steroidogenesis after dimethoate exposure and efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in rats: an old drug with new approaches.
abstract: Organophosphates (OPs) like dimethoate (DMT), are pesticides used worldwide, which can affect both animals and human. Whereas their toxicity is due to acetylcholinesterase inhibition, their secondary toxic effects have been related to free oxygen radical biosynthesis. The present study was designed to investigate the reprotoxic effects of DMT and the protective role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in male rat. DMT (20 mg/ kg/body weight) was administered daily to rats via gavage in corn oil and NAC (2 g/l) was added to drinking water for 30 days. Rats were sacrificed on the 30th day, 2 h after the last administration. Markers of testis injury (steroidogenesis impairment) and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, and antioxidant status) were assessed. In DMT-exposed rats, the serum level of testosterone was decreased. Further, a significant increase in lipid peroxidation level and a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes were observed in the testis of rats during DMT intoxication. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis demonstrated a decrease in messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory StAR protein, cytochrome P450scc, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) in the testis after DMT exposure. No significant changes in the oxidative stress status and selected reproductive variables were observed on CTN group, whereas NAC restored the oxidative stress and the steroidogenesis on NAC group. Dimethoate induces reprotoxicity and oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine showed therapeutic recovery effects against dimethoate toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, El Manar University Tunis, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia. jallouli-manel@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jallouli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, El Manar University Tunis, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: El Bini Dhouib
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, El Manar University Tunis, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hanène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dhouib
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, El Manar University Tunis, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Montassar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lasram
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, El Manar University Tunis, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Najoua
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gharbi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aggression Physiology and Endocrine Metabolic Studies, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, El Manar University Tunis, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Saloua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Fazaa
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004117:Dimethoate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D013739:Testosterone; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C044256:3 (or 17)-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; D004117:Dimethoate; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Dimethoate; N-acetylcysteine; Organophosphorus; Oxidative stress; Steroidogenesis