Black soot exposure induced hypothalamic and testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis in male rats |
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| Authors: | Godspower Onyeso Edward Lete Bohr Kpobari William Nkpaa Paulinus Nmereni Amadi Andrew Chukwuma Ugwu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Human Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria;2. Department of Physiology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria;3. Public Health and Water Provision Operation Unit, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Port Harcourt, Nigeria;4. Department of Anatomy, Madonna University Nigeria, Elele Campus, Elele, Nigeria;5. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Air pollution constitutes the largest cause of environmental risks today. At present, no scientific publication linking environmental black soot and derangement in the hypothalamus and testis of rats exists. This study investigated the effect of black soot exposure on hypothalamic and testicular functions of male rats exposed to black soot for 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively. The hypothalamus and testis were processed for biochemical analysis. Results show that black soot exposure for 4, 8 and 12 weeks significantly (p < .05) increased oxidative stress markers both in the testis and in the hypothalamus of rats. Also, black soot exposure significantly (p < .05) decreased the alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase as well as lactate dehydrogenase activities in the testis. Furthermore, the result demonstrated an upregulation of the protein expression of caspase-3, an indication of increased apoptosis which led to the disruption of the histological architecture of the hypothalamus and testis. Taken together, black soot exposure induced hypothalamic and testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis in male rats. |
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| Keywords: | apoptosis black soot hypothalamus oxidative stress testis |
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