Journal
ANTIOXIDANTS
Volume 12, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/antiox12010152
Keywords
deoxynivalenol; lactoferrin; blood-testis barrier; inflammatory response; cell adhesion
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study aimed to investigate the effects of lactoferrin (LF) on spermatogenesis and the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in deoxynivalenol (DON)-exposed mice. The results showed that LF administration restored sperm production, attenuated oxidative stress and reduced breakages in adhesion junctions caused by DON. It also improved antioxidant capacity and modified the inflammatory response and cell adhesion genes.
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is among the most prevalent contaminants in cereal crops and has been demonstrated to impair male spermatogenesis and induce oxidative stress, testicular apoptosis, and disruption of the blood-testis barrier (BTB). Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein with multifunctions including anti-inflammation and antioxidation. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of LF on the spermatogenesis and integrity of the BTB in DON-exposed mice. Thirty-two male mice were allotted to four groups for a 35-day feeding period: vehicle (basal diet), DON (12 mg/kg), LF (10 mg/d, p.o.), and DON + LF. The results showed that DON induced vacuolization of the spermatogenic epithelium, broke the adhesion junction between Sertoli cells and spermatids established by N-cadherin and induced testicular oxidative stress. LF administration restored sperm production, attenuated the DON-induced oxidative stress and reduced the breakages in adhesion junction. DON exposure enhanced the protein expression of occludin. Transcriptional profiling of the testis observed a disturbance in the expression profiles of cell adhesion and inflammatory response genes, and LF administration reversed these gene expressions. Furthermore, down-regulated signaling pathways, including the apical junction, TNF alpha signaling via NF-kappa B, and TGF-beta in the DON group were observed. These were restored by LF. Enrichment analysis between DON + LF group and vehicle also confirmed the absence of these pathways. These findings indicated that LF eliminated the DON-induced detriment to spermatogenesis and cell connections between Sertoli cells and spermatids via improving antioxidant capacity and modifying the inflammatory response and cell adhesion genes.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available