ArticleBiological trace element research2023
Effects of N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Expression of Apoptosis-Related Genes in Testicular Tissue of Rats Exposed to Lead.
Article in Biological trace element research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Unravelling lead-induced toxicity in mammals: the role of oxidative stress and apoptosis and their modulation by emerging therapeutic strategies.Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine · 2026Review
- Review
- Lead-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Its Therapeutic Interventions: An Updated Review.Biological trace element research · 2026Review
- A Narrative Review of Metallomic Studies: Revealing the Toxic Metal Burden in Tobacco Smokers.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Recent advances in the clinical management of intoxication by five heavy metals: Mercury, lead, chromium, cadmium and arsenic.Heliyon · 2025Review
- Paternal Lead Exposure and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Environmental health insights · 2025Review
- The impact of N-acetylcysteine on hypoxia-induced testicular apoptosis in male rats: TUNEL and IHC findings.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Effect of N-acetylcysteine on hair follicle changes in mouse model of cyclophosphamide-induced alopecia: histological and biochemical study.Histochemistry and cell biology · 2024Article
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3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLead occupational exposure is now a main concern in the modern world. Lead is a non-biodegradable element with multi-devastating effects on different organs. Acute or chronic exposure to lead is reported to be one of the most important causes of infertility both in males and females basically by inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.
objectivesThe current study scrutinized the mitigating effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on lead toxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptotic/anti-apoptotic genes in the testis tissues of male rats.
methodsRats were randomly divided into a control group (G1) and four study groups treated with single and continuous doses of lead with and without NAC administration. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were analyzed as oxidative stress biomarkers and the expression of apoptosis-related genes was studied using RT-PCR.
resultsContinuous exposure to lead caused a significant decrease in sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology (P < 0.001). Number of germinal cells, Leydig cells, spermatocytes, and the diameter of seminiferous tubule were significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in G3 group. Continuous exposure to lead significantly decreased TAC content, but increased the levels of MDA and 8-OHdG (P < 0.001). Administration of continuous dose of lead dramatically increased expression of Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Cytochrome-C, MMP2, and MMP9 genes in testicular tissue. NAC treatments not only improved morphological changes and sperm quality, but also enhanced antioxidant balance and modulated apoptosis process in testicular tissue of rats.
conclusionLead exposure strongly motivated testicular cells towards apoptosis, caused an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, and decreased sperm quality along with morphological changes in testis cells. NAC treatments was associated with protective effects on testicular tissue mainly by rebalancing of the antioxidants capacity, as well as downregulation of apoptosis-related genes.
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