Effects of Intraperitoneal Administration of ATRA on the Testis of Elastase Induced Emphysematous Rats.

Abstract

Emphysema is the pathological manifestation primarily associated with lungs. However, there are evidences of extra-pulmonary manifestations related to emphysema. The inflammation developed during emphysema triggers the release of several inflammatory mediators, which affects the proximal as well as distal organs. The present study was designed to determine the effect of inflammatory spillage on testicular tissue of male Sprague dawley rats; moreover, the main focus was to assess the potential role of ATRA as an anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory molecule. Three experimental groups (i.e., control, SS; emphysema, ES; and therapy, EA) were prepared. Subsequently, the testis from each rat was collected for elastase activity assay, histopathology, catalase activity assay, protein expression of TNF-α and mRNA expression of genes associated with male fertility. The endogenous elastase activity in testis was significantly high in ES group as compared to SS group, while in EA group the activity was reduced significantly. Testis histopathology photomicrographs clearly shows degenerated leydig cell population in ES group, while, the population was regenerated in EA group. The catalase activity was reduced while protein expression of TNF-α was significantly increased in ES group, whereas, in response to ATRA the catalase activity was increased and protein expression of TNF-α was significantly decreased. The male fertility genes were significantly downregulated in ES group, while, significantly upregulated in EA group. ATRA supplementation has proven to be beneficial in reducing the inflammation along with maintaining the normal testis architecture as well as the male fertility genes.

Keywords: ATRA, Systemic Inflammation, Testis, Male fertility

Cite this Article

Swati Uniyal, Nimisha Sharma, Sudhir Kotnala et al. Effects of Intraperitoneal Administration of ATRA on the Testis of Elastase Induced Emphysematous Rats. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology. 2016; 6(3): 1–12p.