title: Quercetin and vitamin E attenuate Bonny Light crude oil-induced alterations in testicular apoptosis, stress proteins and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in Wistar rats.
abstract: Studies have shown the reproductive effects of Bonny Light crude oil (BLCO) via the mechanism of oxidative stress and testicular apoptosis. We investigated the protective role of quercetin and vitamin E on BLCO-induced testicular apoptosis. Experimental rats were divided into four groups of four each. Animals were orally administered 2 ml/kg corn oil (control: group 1), BLCO-800 mg/kg body weight + 10 mg/kg quercetin (group 2), BLCO-800 mg/kg body weight + 50 mg/kg vitamin E (group 3) and BLCO-800 mg/kg body weight only (group 4) for 7 d. Protein levels of caspase 3, FasL, NF-kB, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and stress response proteins were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Immunofluorescence staining was used to quantify the expression of caspase 3, FasL and NF-kB. Apoptosis was quantified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. Administration of BLCO resulted in a significant increase in the levels of stress response proteins and apoptosis-related proteins by 50% and above after 7 d following BLCO exposure and a concomitant increase in expression of caspase 3, FasL and NF-kB expression by immunofluorescence staining. Apoptosis showed a significant increase in TUNEL positive cells. Co-administration with quercetin or vitamin E reversed BLCO-induced apoptosis and levels of stress protein, relative to control. These findings suggest that quercetin and vitamin E may confer protection against BLCO-induced testicular oxidative stress-related apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo , Ebonyi, Nigeria .
authors.forename: Azubuike P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ebokaiwe
authors.affiliation: b Reproductive & Endocrine Biochemistry Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University , Pondicherry , India , and.
authors.forename: Premendu P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: c Drug Metabolism & Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan , Ibadan , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ebenezer O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Farombi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D010578:Petroleum; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D014810:Vitamin E; D011794:Quercetin
keywords: Bonny Light crude oil; apoptosis; male rats; quercetin; vitamin E