Taurine can Protect Against Arsenic-Induced Reproductive Toxicity Through Autophagy

Sadaf  Saeedi; Mohammadamin  Ashrafzadeh; Kian  Kashani; Seyedeh Zeinab  Peighambarzadeh; Maryam  Sahebi Ala; Hazhir  Khoram; Ali   Olfati

doi:10.18502/ijml.v11i4.20088

Sadaf Saeedi Department of Veterinary Pathobiology Sciences, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Mohammadamin Ashrafzadeh Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Baft Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
Kian Kashani Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Baft Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
Seyedeh Zeinab Peighambarzadeh Department of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran
Maryam Sahebi Ala Department of Animal Science, Agriculture Faculty, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Hazhir Khoram Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran
Ali Olfati Clinical Research Development Center, Motazedi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijml.v11i4.20088

Keywords: Arsenic toxicity, Autophagy, Reproductive system, Spermatogenesis

Abstract

Introduction: Arsenic is a potent environmental toxin associated with male infertility. Taurine (TAU) has been demonstrated to regulate oxidative stress biomarkers and improve mitochondrial function.

Materials and Methods: It evaluated the hypothesis that TAU could recover spermatogenesis dysfunction in an arsenic-treated rat model. Then, 24 adult male rats were challenged as follows (n=6/group) for 35 consecutive days: control (distilled water; gavage); 3 mg/l/day sodium arsenite; TAU (1000 mg/kg; 14) during arsenic exposure; and TAU during the study period. 24 h after the last treatment, animals were euthanized, serum samples were processed for assessing sex hormone levels, and testes were processed for weight, oxidative stress indices, histopathology, and RNA extraction for expression levels of autophagic marker genes.

Results: Arsenic causes defective pathologic effects, and upregulates autophagic marker gene expression and production of free radicals. TAU exposure notably ameliorated the autophagy dysregulation through downregulation of the autophagic genes by inhibition of oxidative changes.

Conclusion: This study presents a novel scientific approach to arsenic spermatogenesis dysfunction, attributed to TAU’s antioxidant activity.