title: Quercetin exerts preventive, ameliorative and prophylactic effects on cadmium chloride - induced oxidative stress in the uterus and ovaries of female Wistar rats.
abstract: This study examined the possible protective effect of quercetin(QE) on cadmium chloride (CdCl2) - induced reproductive toxicity in female rats. Cadmium (Cd) accumulated in the uterus and ovaries of rats, decreased antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH)], and raised the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the uterus and ovaries of rats. Serum concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone decreased significantly after CdCl2administration. Caspase-3 activity significantly increased in the ovaries, with an increase in Bax and a decrease in Bcl-2 protein expressions after CdCl2treatment. Histopathology of the ovaries revealed significant decrease in follicle number, while the uterus showed cyst-like endometrial glands. All three models of QE treatment [pre-treatment (QE + CdCl2), post-treatment (CdCl2+QE), simultaneous treatment (CdCl2/QE)] decreased Cd accumulation, MDA, H2O2, and increased SOD, CAT and GPx activities in the uterus and ovaries, decreased apoptosis of follicular cells, and increased serum reproductive hormones. However, the QE pre-treated model offered better protection against CdCl2relative to the other two models. These results suggest that, QE exerts multi-mechanistic protective effects against cadmium toxicity attributable to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kelantan, Malaysia. Electronic address: victor2nna@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Victor Udo
authors.initials: VU
authors.lastname: Nna
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kelantan, Malaysia; Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Umar Zayyanu
authors.initials: UZ
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Oleba
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ofutet
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Daniel Udofia
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Owu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002104:Cadmium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D020011:Protective Agents; D002104:Cadmium; D011794:Quercetin; D019256:Cadmium Chloride
keywords: Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Cadmium; Ovaries; Quercetin; Steroidogenesis