Ascorbic Acid Protects the Testis and Pituitary-Gonadal Axis from the Effects of Hyperthermia in Adult Male Albino Rats

Faisal A. Bughdadi^1,

¹Biology Department, University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SA

Cite this paper:
Faisal A. Bughdadi. Ascorbic Acid Protects the Testis and Pituitary-Gonadal Axis from the Effects of Hyperthermia in Adult Male Albino Rats. American Journal of Zoological Research. 2014; 2(1):1-4. doi: 10.12691/ajzr-2-1-1

Abstract

Objective: The effect of hyperthermia on pituitary – gonadal axis of adult male albino rats exposed to high temperature (40 ± 1°C) for 12 hours was investigated. The protective role of vit. C in hyperthermia exposed rats was also studied. Animals and Methods: Thirty adult male rats, about 3 months old, were used. They were divided into three equal groups and separated into two rooms. The rats in the first room (gp 1/ control) were maintained under 25 ± 5°C environmental temp. Rats of second room (gp 2 & 3) were subjected to 40 ± 1°C for 12 hours. Rats of gp 1 & 2 were fed on a normal commercial rat ration while, rats of gp3 were fed on the same ration supplemented with vit. C. Serum, testicular and pituitary levels of testosterone, LH, FSH and PRL were evaluated in all rat groups. Histopathological examination of testes were evaluated after heat exposure. Results: obtained revealed a significant lowered levels of testicular testosterone in gp 2 as compared with that of (gp 1 & 3). Serum levels of Testosterone, LH and FSH were significantly decreased and PRL level was significantly increased in gp 2 as compared with (gp 1 & 3). In addition, pituitary Levels of FSH or LH were significantly decreased and PRL level was significantly increased in gp 2. Histopathological examination revealed disorganization of semineferous tubules of the testes in gp 2. Conclusion: avoidance of hyperthermia is very important to maintaine a proper pituitary - gonadal axis. Vit.C was found to counteracts the adverse effects of hyperthermia. Also, rat model could be considered as a basis to investigate the effects of hyperthermia on human males working in areas of higher heat exposure.

Keywords:
hyperthermia pituitary - gonadal axis testis Vit.C rats

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	Aitken, R.J, Gordon, E, Harkiss, D, Twigg, J.P, Milne, P, Jennings, Z and Irvine, D.S, “Relative impact of oxidative stress on the functional competence and genomic integrity of human spermatozoa,” Biol Reprod, 9: 1037-46, 1999.
[2]	Amann, R.P, Schanbacher, B.D, “Physiology of male reproduction” J. Anim Sci, 57(2): 380-403, 1983.
[3]	Augustine, L.M, Markelewicz, R.J, Boekelheide, K, Cherrington, N.J, “Xenobiotic and endobiotic transporter mRNA expression in the blood-testis barrier” Drug Metab. Dispo, 33: 182-9, 2005.
[4]	De Kretser, D, “Is spermatogenesic damage associated with Leydig cell dysfunction?,” J. Clin Endocrinol. Metab ,89: 3158, 2004.
[5]	Djurašević, S.F, Djordjević, J, Drenca, T And Gordana, N, “Influence of vitamin c supplementation on the oxidative status of rat liver,”Arch. Biol. Sci, 60 (2), 169-173, 2008.
[6]	El-Far, F.I, “Effect of some anti-rheumatics on some hormones and testicular functions of male albino rats” MVSc Thesis submitted to Fac.Vet. Med., Physiology Dept., Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, 1996.
[7]	El-Shaieb, A, El-Seady, Y and Abd-El-Wahab, W “Pathological, hematological and biochemical effects of heat stress on broiler with special reference to protective effect of ascorbic acid supplementation” Egypt. J. Basic. Appl. Physiol, 8: 91-112, 2009.
[8]	Guyton, A and Hall, J, Body temperature regulation and fever, Chapter 73, In: Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th ed., El Sevier Saunders, Santa Clara, CA 95053, United States, 2006, PP. 552-610.
[9]	Iqbal, K, Khan, A, Khattak, M “Biological significance of ascorbic acid (Vit.C) in human health-a review” Pakistan J Nutrition, 3: 5-13, 2004.
[10]	Jaffe, B.M, and Behrman, H.R. Methods of Hormone Radio Immunoassay, 2nd. edit. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1974.
[11]	Jedlinska, K.M, Bomba, G, Jakubowski K, Rotkiewicz, T, Jana, B, Penkowski, A, “Impact of oxidative stress and supplementation with vitamins E and C on testes morphology in rats” J. Reprod Dev, 52: 203-9, 2006.
[12]	Jung, A, Schuppe, H.C “Influence of genital heat stress on semen quality in humans” Andrologia, 39: 203-15, 2007.
[13]	Kemprinas, W, Melo, V, and Santos A “Saturnism in male rat: Endocrine effects Braz” J. Med. Biol. Res, 23, : 1171-1175, 1990.
[14]	Khan, V.R, Brown, I.R “The effect of hyperthermia on the induction of cell death in brain, testis, and thymus of the adult and developing rat” Cell Stress Chaperones, 7:73-90, 2002.
[15]	Lindsay, B, Medes, G “Histological changes in the testis of the guinea pig during scurvy and inantition” Am. J. Anat, 37: 213-230, 1962.
[16]	Linster, C. l, Van Schaftingen, E “Vitamin C. Biosynthesis, recycling and degradation in mammals” FEBS J, 274: 1-22, 2007.
[17]	Lue, Y.H, Hikim, A.P, Swerdloff, R.S, Taing, K.S., Bui, T “Single exposure to heat induces stage-specific germ cell apoptosis in rats: role of intratesticular testosterone on stage specificity,” Endocrinology, 140: 1709-17, 1999.
[18]	Lue, Y.H, Lasley, B.L, Laughlin, L.S, Swerdloff, R.S, Hikim, A.P, Leung, A “Mild testicular hyperthermia induces profound transitional spermatogenic suppression through increased germ cell apoptosis in adult cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)” J. Androl, 23: 799-805, 2002.
[19]	Michel, V, Peinnequin, A, Alonso, A, Buguet, A, Cespuglio, R, Canini, F “Decreased heat tolerance is associated with hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis impairment” Neuroscience, 147: 522-31, 2007.
[20]	Miller, M, And Ziskin, M “Biological consequences of hyperthermia Ultrasound,” Med. Biol, 15: 707-722, 1989.
[21]	Sahin, K, Sahin, N, and Issi, M “Vitamin C and E can alleviate negative effects of heat stress in Japanese Quails” Food Agri. Environment J, 1: 244-249, 2003.
[22]	Schobitz, B, Reul, J.M, Holsboer, F “The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system during inflammatory conditions” Crit Rev Neurobiol, 8: 263-91, 1994.
[23]	Sharma, H.S “Methods to produce hyperthermia-induced brain dysfunction” Prog Brain Res, 162:173-99, 2007.
[24]	Thoreux–Manlay, A, Calla, J and Olivier, M “Impairment of testicular endocrine function after lead intoxication in the adult rat” Toxicol, 100: 101-109, 1995.
[25]	Wang, J.S, Chen, S.M, Lee, S.P, Lee, S.D, Huang, C.Y, Hsieh, C.C “Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate linked to physiologic response against hot spring immersion” Steroids, 74: 945-9, 2009.
[26]	Wright, H.E, Selkirk, G. A and McLellan ,T.M “responses to increasing core temperature during uncompensable exertional heat stress in trained and untrained males” Eur. J. Appl Physiol, 108: 987-97, 2010.
[27]	Xing, S, Cekan, S.Z And Diczfalusy, L “Validation of radioimmunoassay for estradiol 17β by isotope dilution-mass spectrometry and by a test of radiochemical purity” Clin Chem. Acta 1,35, : 189-196, 1983.