P-101 Mitochondria-mediated apoptosis induced testicular dysfunction in bisphenol F treated rats: ameliorative effect of baicalin

Abstract Study question Will baicalin treatment ameliorate bisphenol F (BPF)-induced testicular dysfunction? Summary answer Baicalin ameliorates BPF-induced mitochondrial dysfunction-associated apoptosis What is known already BPF is a chemical presently considered a major replacement for bisphenol A and has been widely used in the canning and other food processing industries. However, a major limitation of this chemical is its gonadotoxic effect. Studies have shown that BPF disrupts testicular function via apoptotic signaling, although, its mechanism of action has not been fully explored. On the other hand, baicalin is an anti-apoptotic agent. Yet, none of these studies has reported the effect of baicalin on BPF-induced testicular injury Study design, size, duration This is a prospective experimental study using an animal model. Twenty-four sexually matured male Wistar rats of comparable weight were used for this study. All treatments were via oral gavage and lasted for 8 weeks Participants/materials, setting, methods Animals were acclimatized for two weeks, then randomized into 4 groups (n = 6); control: animals received 0.5 mL of corn oil as vehicle, BPF: animals received 30 mg/kg of BPF, baicalin: animals treated with 100 mg/kg of baicalin, BPF+ baicalin: animals treated with 30 mg/kg BPF and 100 mg/kg baicalin Main results and the role of chance : Baicalin ameliorated BPF-induced decrease in spermatogenic indices and sperm quality, circulatory levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone, and testicular concentrations of 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD. Also, baicalin ameliorated BPF-induced decline in testicular superoxide dismutase, catalase, total thiol, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 concentrations. Furthermore, baicalin alleviated BPF-induced increase in testicular malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-kB levels. These events were associated with the dampening of BPF-induced decline in NAD+/NADH and Bcl-2 activities and BPF-induced increase in Bax and caspase 3 activities by baicalin. Limitations, reasons for caution This study was conducted in a rat model; therefore the results of the present study should be extrapolated to humans with caution Wider implications of the findings The present study described the ameliorative effect of baicalin treatment on BPF-induced testicular toxicity. Trial registration number N/A