Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Antioxidant Defense of Betaine Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Ethanol in the Rat Testes

  • Published:
International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Oxidative stress is one of the factors associated with decline in fertility and betaine has been shown to bear antioxidant and methyl donor properties in our recent studies. Thus, we designed the present study to examine antioxidant and methyl donor abilities of betaine in oxidative stress induced by ethanol in the rat testes. The adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups and treated daily for 2 months as follows: control, ethanol (4 g/kg, orally), betaine (1.5 % of total diet, orally), and betaine plus ethanol (betaine, 1.5 % of total diet and after 120 min, ethanol 4 g/kg). Sperm motility and concentration significantly increased in betaine group when compared to the ethanol–treated rats. The main antioxidant enzyme (GPx) activity significantly increased (in order compensatory) in ethanol-treated rats when compared to betaine group while, antiperoxidative enzyme (CAT) activity significantly increased in betaine plus ethanol group as compared to ethanol-treated rats. Total homocysteine (tHcy) and TBARS concentration (as a lipid peroxidation marker) also significantly decreased in betaine and betaine plus ethanol groups as compared to ethanol-treated rats. Overall, methyl donor and antioxidant properties of betaine are promising and reduce the elevated tHcy and TBARS concentrations in betaine plus ethanol group. Therefore, betaine might be used as a potential therapy in hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress induced by ethanol in alcoholism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  • Alirezaei M, Saeb M, Javidnia K, Nazifi S, Khalighyan N, Saeb S (2010) Betaine reduction of hyperhomocysteinemia and enhancement of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in ethanol-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in rabbits. Afr J Biochem Res 4(11):246–254

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alirezaei M, Jelodar G, Niknam P, Ghayemi Z, Nazifi S (2011a) Betaine prevents ethanol-induced oxidative stress and reduces total homocysteine in the rat cerebellum. J Physiol Biochem 67:605–612

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alirezaei M, Saeb M, Javidnia K, Nazifi S, Saeb S (2011b) Hyperhomocysteinemia reduction in ethanol-fed rabbits by oral betaine. Comp Clin Pathol. doi:10.1007/s00580-010-1110-6

  • Alirezaei M, Kheradmand A, Heydari R, Tanideh N, Neamati S, Rashidipour M (2012) Oleuropein protects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and modulates sperm quality in the rat testis. Mediterr J Nutr Metab :1–7. doi:10.1007/s12349-011-0079-2

  • Aurich JE, Schonherr U, Hoppe H, Aurich C (1997) Effects of antioxidants on motility and membrane integrity of chilled-stored stallion semen. Theriogenology 48(2):185–192

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ball BA, Medina V, Gravance CG, Baumber J (2001) Effect of antioxidants on preservation of motility, viability and acrosomal integrity of equine spermatozoa during storage at 5 C. Theriogenology 56(4):577–589

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barak AJ, Beckenhauer HC (1988) The influence of ethanol on hepatic transmethylation. Alcohol Alcohol 23(1):73–77

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barak AJ, Beckenhauer HC, Tuma DJ (1985) Ethanol feeding inhibits the activity of hepatic N5-methyltetrahydrofolate: homocysteine methyltransferase in the rat. IRCS Med Sci 13:760–761

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barak AJ, Beckenhauer HC, Tuma DJ (2002) Methionine synthase a possible prime site of the ethanolic lesion in liver. Alcohol 26(2):65–67

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bauché F, Fouchard MH, Jégou B (1994) Antioxidant system in rat testicular cells. FEBS Lett 349(3):392–396

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bidulescu A, Chambless LE, Siega-Riz AM, Zeisel SH, Heiss G (2009) Repeatability and measurement error in the assessment of choline and betaine dietary intake: the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study. Nutr J 8(1):14–20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bleich S, Degner D, Sperling W, Bönsch D, Thürauf N, Kornhuber J (2004) Homocysteine as a neurotoxin in chronic alcoholism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 28(3):453–464

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bottiglieri T (2005) Homocysteine and folate metabolism in depression. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 29(7):1103–1112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cancel AM, Lobdell D, Mendola P, Perreault SD (2000) Objective evaluation of hyperactivated motility in rat spermatozoa using computer-assisted sperm analysis. Hum Reprod 15(6):1322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen NH, Reith ME, Quick MW (2004) Synaptic uptake and beyond: the sodium- and chloride-dependent neurotransmitter transporter family SLC6. Pflugers Arch Eur J Physiol 447:519–531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Claiborne A (1985) Catalase activity. In: Greenwald RA (ed) CRC handbook of methods for oxygen radical research, Vol 1. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, pp 283–284

  • Craig SA (2004) Betaine in human nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr 80(3):539–549

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cravo ML, Gloria LM, Selhub J, Nadeau MR, Camilo ME, Resende MP, Cardoso JN, Leitao CN, Mira FC (1996) Hyperhomocysteinemia in chronic alcoholism: correlation with folate, vitamin B-12, and vitamin B-6 status. Am Soc Nutr 63:220–224

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Das SK, Vasudevan DM (2007) Alcohol-induced oxidative stress. Life Sci 81(3):177–187

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dinu D, Nechifor MT, Movileanu L (2006) Ethanol-induced alterations of the antioxidant defense system in rat kidney. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 19(6):386–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doreswamy K, Shrilatha B, Rajeshkumar T (2004) Nickel-induced oxidative stress in testis of mice: evidence of DNA damage and genotoxic effects. J Androl 25(6):103–996

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgar R, Domrachev M, Lash AE (2002) Gene expression omnibus: NCBI gene expression and hybridization array data repository. Nucleic Acid Res 30(1):207–210

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eichner ER, Hillman RS (1971) The evolution of anemia in alcoholic patients. Am J Med 50(2):218–232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emanuele MA, Emanuele NV (1998) Alcohol’s effects on male reproduction. Alcohol Health Res World 22:195–201

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emanuele MA, Emanuele N (2001) Alcohol and the male reproductive system. Alcohol Res Health 25(4):282–287

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelstein JD (2007) Metabolic regulatory properties of S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine. Clin Chem Lab Med 45(12):1694–1699

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelstein JD, Kyle WE, Harris BJ (1971) Methionine metabolism in mammals. Regulation of homocysteine methyltransferases in rat tissue. Arch Biochem Biophys 146(1):84–92

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forges T, Monnier-Barbarino P, Alberto JM, Gueant-Rodriguez RM, Daval JL, Gueant JL (2007) Impact of folate and homocysteine metabolism on human reproductive health. Hum Reprod Update 13(3):225–239

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ganesan B, Buddhan S, Anandan R, Sivakumar R, Anbinezhilan R (2009) Antioxidant defense of betaine against isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Mol Biol Rep 37(3):1319–1327

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Golbahar J, Aminzadeh MA, Hamidi SA, Omrani GR (2005) Association of red blood cell 5-methyltetrahydrfoate folate with bone mineral density in postmenopausal Iranian women. Osteoporos Int 16(12):1894–1898

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halsted CH, Robles EA, Mezey E (1971) Decreased jejunal uptake of labeled folic acid (3H-PGA) in alcoholic patients: roles of alcohol and nutrition. N Eng J Med 285(13):701–706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halsted CH, Villanueva JA, Devlin AM, Niemela O, Parkkila S, Garrow TA, Wallock LM, Shigenaga MK, Melnyk S, James SJ (2002) Folate deficiency disturbs hepatic methionine metabolism and promotes liver injury in the ethanol-fed micropig. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99(15):10072–10077

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haubrich DR, Gerber NH (1981) Choline dehydrogenase. Assay, properties and inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 30(21):2993

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hemachand T, Shaha C (2003) Functional role of sperm surface glutathione S-transferases and extracellular glutathione in the haploid spermatozoa under oxidative stress. FEBS Lett 538(1–3):14–18

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert V, Zalusky R, Davidson CS (1963) Correlation of folate deficiency with alcoholism and associated macrocytosis, anemia, and liver disease. Ann Intern Med 58(6):977–988

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ji C, Kaplowitz N (2003) Betaine decreases hyperhomocysteinemia, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and liver injury in alcohol-fed mice. Gastroenterology 124(5):1488–1499

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanbak G, Arslan OC, Dokumacioglu A, Kartkaya K, Inal ME (2008) Effects of chronic ethanol consumption on brain synaptosomes and protective role of betaine. Neurochem Res 33(3):539–544

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karthikeyan G, Thachil A, Sharma S, Kalaivani M, Ramakrishnan L (2007) Elevated high sensitivity CRP levels in patients with mitral stenosis and left atrial thrombus. Int J Cardiol 122(3):252–254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kasdallah-Grissa A, Mornagui B, Aouani E, Hammami M, Gharbi N, Kamoun A, El-Fazaa S (2006) Protective effect of resveratrol on ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation in rats. Alcohol Alcohol 41(3):236–239

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly TLJ, Neaga OR, Schwahn BC, Rozen R, Trasler JM (2005) Infertility in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)-deficient male mice is partially alleviated by lifetime dietary betaine supplementation. Biol Reprod 72(3):667–677

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kheradmand A, Alirezaei M, Asadian P, Alavi ER, Joorabi S (2009a) Antioxidant enzyme activity and MDA level in the rat testis following chronic administration of ghrelin. Andrologia 41(6):335–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kheradmand A, Taati M, Babaei H (2009b) The effects of chronic administration of ghrelin on rat sperm quality and membrane integrity. Anim Biol 59(2):159–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kheradmand A, Alirezaei M, Birjandi M (2010) Ghrelin promotes antioxidant enzyme activity and reduces lipid peroxidation in the rat ovary. Regul Pept 162(1–3):84–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kheradmand A, Dezfoulian O, Tarrahi MJ (2011) Ghrelin attenuates heat-induced degenerative effects in the rat testis. Regul Pept 167:97–104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim JM, Stewart R, Kim SW, Yang SJ, Shin IS, Yoon JS (2008) Predictive value of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels in late-life depression. Br J Psychiatry 192(4):268–274

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee H, Kim JH, Chae YJ, Ogawa H, Lee MH, Gerton GL (1998) Creatine synthesis and transport systems in the male rat reproductive tract. Biol Reprod 58(6):1437–1444

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leevy CM, Baker H, Tenhove W, Frank O, Cherrick GR (1965) B-complex vitamins in liver disease of the alcoholic. Am J Clin Nutr 16:339–346

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193(1):265–275

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masella R, Vari R, D’Archivio M, Di Benedetto R, Matarrese P, Malorni W, Scazzocchio B, Giovannini C (2004) Extra virgin olive oil biophenols inhibit cell-mediated oxidation of LDL by increasing the mRNA transcription of glutathione-related enzymes. J Nutr 134(4):785–791

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McMartin KE, Collins TD, Eisenga BH, Fortney T, Bates WR, Bairnsfather L (1989) Effects of chronic ethanol and diet treatment on urinary folate excretion and development of folate deficiency in the rat. J Nutr 119(10):1490–1497

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millian NS, Garrow TA (1998) Human betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase is a zinc metalloenzyme. Arch Biochem Biophys 356(1):93–98

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neamati S, Alirezaei M, Kheradmand A (2011) Ghrelin acts as an antioxidant agent in the rat kidney. Int J Pept Res Therap 17:239–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peltola V, Huhtaniemi I, Ahotupa M (1992) Antioxidant enzyme activity in the maturing rat testis. J Androl 13(5):450–455

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peltola V, Mantyla E, Huhtaniemi I, Ahotupa M (1994) Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in the rat testis after cigarette smoke inhalation or administration of polychlorinated biphenyls or polychlorinated naphthalenes. J Androl 15(4):353–361

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peltola V, Huhtaniemi I, Metsa-Ketela T, Ahotupa M (1996) Induction of lipid peroxidation during steroidogenesis in the rat testis. Endocrinology 137(1):105–112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ratnam S, Wijekoon EP, Hall B, Garrow TA, Brosnan ME, Brosnan JT (2006) Effects of diabetes and insulin on betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase expression in rat liver. Am J Physiol-Endocrinol Metab 290(5):E933–E939

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romero JJ, Tamura T, Halsted CH (1981) Intestinal absorption of [3H] folic acid in the chronic alcoholic monkey. Gastroenterology 80(1):99–102

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sehirli O, Sener E, Sener G, Cetinel S, Erzik C, Yegen BC (2008) Ghrelin improves burn-induced multiple organ injury by depressing neutrophil infiltration and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Peptides 29(7):1231–1240

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sher L, Oquendo MA, Grunebaum MF, Burke AK, Huang Y, Mann JJ (2007) CSF monoamine metabolites and lethality of suicide attempts in depressed patients with alcohol dependence. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 17(1):12–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slow S, Lever M, Chambers ST, George PM (2009) Plasma dependent and independent accumulation of betaine in male and female rat tissues. Physiol Res 58:403–410

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith AM, Zeve DR, Grisel JJ, Chen WJA (2005) Neonatal alcohol exposure increases malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the developing cerebellum. Dev Brain Res 160(2):231–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song Z, Zhou Z, Chen T, Hill D, Kang J, Barve S, McClain C (2003) S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) protects against acute alcohol induced hepatotoxicity in mice. J Nutr Biochem 14(10):591–597

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sonmez M, Türk G, Yüce A (2005) The effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on sperm quality, lipid peroxidation and testosterone levels of male Wistar rats. Theriogenology 63(7):2063–2072

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Srikanth V, Malini T, Arunakaran J, Govindarajulu P, Balasubramanian K (1999) Effects of ethanol treatment on epididymal secretory products and sperm maturation in albino rats. J Pharmacol Exp Therap 288(2):509–515

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Subbarao KV, Richardson JS, Ang LC (1990) Autopsy samples of Alzheimer’s cortex show increased peroxidation in vitro. J Neurochem 55(1):342–345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sunden SLF, Renduchintala MS, Park EI, Miklasz SD, Garrow TA (1997) Betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase expression in porcine and human tissues and chromosomal localization of the human gene. Arch Biochem Biophys 345(1):171–174

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tamura T, Halsted CH (1983) Folate turnover in chronically alcoholic monkeys. J Lab Clin Med 101(4):623–628

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tamura T, Romero JJ, Watson JE, Gong EJ, Halsted CH (1981) Hepatic folate metabolism in the chronic alcoholic monkey. J Lab Clin Med 97(5):654–661

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tremellen K (2008) Oxidative stress and male infertility—a clinical perspective. Hum Reprod Update 14(3):243–259

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner TT, Lysiak JJ (2008) Oxidative stress: a common factor in testicular dysfunction. J Androl 29(5):488–498

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Thiel DH (1983) Ethanol: its adverse effects upon the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. J Lab Clin Med 101(1):21–33

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Villanueva JA, Halsted CH (2004) Hepatic transmethylation reactions in micropigs with alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 39(5):1303–1310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallock-Montelius LM, Villanueva JA, Chapin RE, Conley AJ, Nguyen HP, Ames BN, Halsted CH (2007) Chronic ethanol perturbs testicular folate metabolism and dietary folate deficiency reduces sex hormone levels in the Yucatan micropig. Biol Reprod 76(3):455–465

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu D, Cederbaum AI (2003) Alcohol, oxidative stress, and free radical damage. Alcohol Res Health 27:277–284

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu A, Chanarin I, Slavin G, Levi AJ (1975) Folate deficiency in the alcoholic—its relationship to clinical and haematological abnormalities, liver disease and folate stores. Br J Haematol 29(3):469–478

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This research was financially supported by School of Veterinary Medicine-Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. We are most grateful to Saeedeh Ahmadi for the kind technical assistance; also like to thank M. Shoaei and R. Shirazi (the member and manager of Aryadalman Company, Tehran, Iran) for providing betaine (Betafine®).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, P. O. Box 465, Khorram Abad, Iran

    Masoud Alirezaei

  2. Department of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, 71345, Shiraz, Iran

    Gholamali Jelodar & Zeynab Ghayemi

Authors
  1. Masoud Alirezaei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gholamali Jelodar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zeynab Ghayemi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masoud Alirezaei.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 1171 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alirezaei, M., Jelodar, G. & Ghayemi, Z. Antioxidant Defense of Betaine Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Ethanol in the Rat Testes. Int J Pept Res Ther 18, 239–247 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-012-9297-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-012-9297-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation