Abstract
In this study, we compare the effects of deferiprone (Def) and tetraethylammonium salt of salinomycinic acid (Sal) on lead (Pb)-induced toxicity in testes of Pb-exposed mice. Mature male ICR mice were allocated into four groups as follows: untreated control mice (ctrl)—received distilled water for 4 weeks; Pb-exposed mice (Pb)—subjected to 14-day Pb (II) nitrate administration at dose 80 mg/kg body weight (b.w.); Pb + Def group—Pb-exposed mice, treated with 20 mg/kg b.w. Def for 2 weeks; and Pb + Sal group—Pb-intoxicated mice, treated with 16 mg/kg b.w. Sal for 14 days. The results demonstrated that Pb exposure significantly increased blood and testicular Pb concentrations, decreased testicular calcium (Ca) content, significantly elevated testicular levels of magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) but did not significantly affect the endogenous contents of phosphorous (P) and iron (Fe) compared with untreated controls. Pb intoxication induced disorganization of the seminiferous epithelium. Def or Sal administration reduced blood Pb and testicular Pb concentrations in Pb-exposed mice compared with the Pb-intoxicated group. Mg, Zn, and Se concentrations in testes of Pb-exposed mice, treated with Def or Sal, remained higher compared with the untreated controls. Sal significantly increased testicular P concentration compared with untreated controls and significantly elevated the testicular Ca and Fe concentrations compared with the toxic control group. Both chelating agents improved testicular morphology to a great extent. The results demonstrate the potential of both compounds as antidotes for treatment of Pb-induced impairment of male reproductive function.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Mrs. Kristina Yosifcheva (Head of the Laboratory for toxic metals, University Hospital “St. Ivan Rilski”) for the atomic absorption analyses of blood samples. The financial support of this study by by the National Science Fund of Bulgaria (grant: KP-06-Austria-6/6.08.2019) and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) (Project No: BG 07/2019) is acknowledged.
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This study was financially supported by the National Science Fund of Bulgaria (grant: KP-06-Austria-6/6.08.2019) and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) (Project No: BG 07/2019).
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EP1 calculated testes/body weight (TW/BW) ratio, determined sperm count, performed the histological studies, contributed to statistical processing of the experimental results, interpreted the histological observations, wrote subsection of the manuscript (histological analysis); IP prepared testicular tissue samples for ICP-MS analysis, contributed to ICP-MS data calculations and interpretation, wrote subsections of the manuscript (sample preparation for ICP-MS analysis and ICP-MS measurements), coordinated the project; MS performed all ICP-MS measurements, contributed to ICP-MS data calculations and interpretation, together with IP wrote subsections of the manuscript (sample preparation for ICP-MS analysis and ICP-MS measurements), EP2 and YG contributed to the animal protocol and edited the manuscript; PD synthesized salinomycin sodium and provided data about the purity of the compound; THH provided valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript; BK, GK contributed to ICP-MS data acquisition, JI synthesized salinomycinic acid, designed the study, contributed to statistical processing and interpretation of the experimental results, wrote most parts of the manuscript, coordinated the project. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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The animal studies were conducted according to the ARRIVE guidelines (Kilkenny et al. 2010) and were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum-BAS (date of approval: 03/15/2018).
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Pavlova, E., Pashkunova-Martic, I., Schaier, M. et al. Ameliorative effects of deferiprone and tetraethylammonium salt of salinomycinic acid on lead-induced toxicity in mouse testes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 6784–6795 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10960-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10960-4