The ameliorative effect of ellagic acid on di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced testicular structural alterations, oxidative stress, inflammation and sperm damages in adult mice

• Main Authors: Azam Hosseinzadeh (Author), Saeed Mehrzadi (Author), Amir Siahpoosh (Author), Zahra Basir (Author), Nosrat Bahrami (Author), Mehdi Goudarzi (Author)
• Formato: Livro
• Publicado em: BMC, 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Assuntos: article
• Acesso em linha: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s12958-021-00830-0; 1477-7827
• Keywords: Ellagic acid, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; Testes; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Gynecology and obstetrics; RG1-991; Reproduction; QH471-489
• Source: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)

Abstract Background Phthalates such as di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are well known exogenous substances, disrupting reproductive system function and structure. The current research demonstrated the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on DEHP-induced testicular injury in mice. Methods Thirty-five healthy adult male mice were randomly divided to five groups; normal saline receiving group, DEHP (2 g/kg/day, dissolved in corn oil, p.o.) receiving group, DEHP (2 g/kg/day, dissolved in corn oil, p.o.) and EA receiving groups (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.). Treatment duration of animals was 14 days. Body and testes weights and sperm characteristics and histological changes of testes were evaluated. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were analyzed. In the testicular tissue, oxidative/nitrosative stress markers and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured. Results Ellagic acid significantly reduced DEHP-induced reduction of body and testes weights. The DEHP-induced reduction of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte and sertoli cells numbers as well as reduction of sperm vitality and progressive motility were reversed by EA. Furthermore, EA inhibited DEHP-induced alterations in serum hormone levels. These effects were associated with the reduction of DEHP-induced increased level of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Conclusions Ellagic acid considerably inhibits testicular toxicity of DEHP through reducing oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammatory responses. Our data suggest that EA may be considered as a promising agent to inhibit male reproductive toxicity induced by endocrine disrupting chemicals such as DEHP.