Biomaterial Database

Carnosine mitigates apoptosis and protects testicular seminiferous tubules from gamma-radiation-induced injury in mice. 2014

S A Haeri, and H Rajabi, and S Fazelipour, and S J Hosseinimehr

Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Physics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

This study investigated the radioprotective effects of a naturally occurring dipeptide, carnosine, on testicular damage. Carnosine was administered (10, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) body weight) to male mice via intraperitoneal injection for 4 days prior to gamma irradiation (2 Gy). Apoptosis with the TUNEL assay and histopathological parameters were evaluated 12-h and 14-day post-irradiation. Pre-treatment with carnosine before irradiation significantly reduced the frequency of TUNEL-positive cells induced by radiation treatment at all doses by reduction factors of 1.8, 2.47 and 2.23 for carnosine at 10, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) bw, respectively, unlike that observed in the radiation alone group. Exposure to ionising radiation decreased sperm count and reduced the height and diameter of seminiferous epithelial tubules. Pre-treatment with all doses of carnosine significantly augmented seminiferous epithelial height and tubule diameter and also increased the number of germinal cells in comparison to the group treated with radiation only. These results indicate that carnosine prevents testicular dysfunction induced by gamma-irradiation via an anti-apoptotic effect; this restoration of proper testicular function ultimately leads to the recovery of spermatogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011837	Radiation-Protective Agents	Drugs used to protect against ionizing radiation. They are usually of interest for use in radiation therapy but have been considered for other purposes, e.g. military.	Radiation Protectant,Radiation Protective Agent,Radiation-Protective Agent,Radiation-Protective Drug,Radioprotective Agent,Radioprotective Agents,Radioprotective Drug,Agents, Radiation-Protective,Radiation Protectants,Radiation Protective Agents,Radiation-Protective Drugs,Radiation-Protective Effect,Radiation-Protective Effects,Radioprotective Drugs,Agent, Radiation Protective,Agent, Radiation-Protective,Agent, Radioprotective,Agents, Radiation Protective,Agents, Radioprotective,Drug, Radiation-Protective,Drug, Radioprotective,Drugs, Radiation-Protective,Drugs, Radioprotective,Effect, Radiation-Protective,Effects, Radiation-Protective,Protectant, Radiation,Protectants, Radiation,Protective Agent, Radiation,Protective Agents, Radiation,Radiation Protective Drug,Radiation Protective Drugs,Radiation Protective Effect,Radiation Protective Effects
D002336	Carnosine	A naturally occurring dipeptide neuropeptide found in muscles.	Carnosine Hydrochloride,Carnosine, (D-His)-Isomer,L-Carnosine,beta-Alanylhistidine,Hydrochloride, Carnosine,L Carnosine,beta Alanylhistidine
D004249	DNA Damage	Injuries to DNA that introduce deviations from its normal, intact structure and which may, if left unrepaired, result in a MUTATION or a block of DNA REPLICATION. These deviations may be caused by physical or chemical agents and occur by natural or unnatural, introduced circumstances. They include the introduction of illegitimate bases during replication or by deamination or other modification of bases; the loss of a base from the DNA backbone leaving an abasic site; single-strand breaks; double strand breaks; and intrastrand (PYRIMIDINE DIMERS) or interstrand crosslinking. Damage can often be repaired (DNA REPAIR). If the damage is extensive, it can induce APOPTOSIS.	DNA Injury,DNA Lesion,DNA Lesions,Genotoxic Stress,Stress, Genotoxic,Injury, DNA,DNA Injuries
D005720	Gamma Rays	Penetrating, high-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted from atomic nuclei during NUCLEAR DECAY. The range of wavelengths of emitted radiation is between 0.1 - 100 pm which overlaps the shorter, more energetic hard X-RAYS wavelengths. The distinction between gamma rays and X-rays is based on their radiation source.	Gamma Wave,Gamma Radiation,Nuclear X-Rays,Radiation, Gamma,X-Rays, Nuclear,Gamma Radiations,Gamma Ray,Gamma Waves,Nuclear X Rays,Nuclear X-Ray,Ray, Gamma,Wave, Gamma,Waves, Gamma,X Rays, Nuclear,X-Ray, Nuclear
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012671	Seminiferous Tubules	The convoluted tubules in the TESTIS where sperm are produced (SPERMATOGENESIS) and conveyed to the RETE TESTIS. Spermatogenic tubules are composed of developing germ cells and the supporting SERTOLI CELLS.	Seminiferous Tubule,Tubule, Seminiferous,Tubules, Seminiferous
D013091	Spermatogenesis	The process of germ cell development in the male from the primordial germ cells, through SPERMATOGONIA; SPERMATOCYTES; SPERMATIDS; to the mature haploid SPERMATOZOA.	Spermatocytogenesis,Spermiogenesis
D013737	Testis	The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS.	Testicles,Testes,Testicle
D017209	Apoptosis	A regulated cell death mechanism characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, at regularly spaced, internucleosomal sites, i.e., DNA FRAGMENTATION. It is genetically programmed and serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth.	Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway,Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis,Classic Apoptosis,Classical Apoptosis,Programmed Cell Death,Programmed Cell Death, Type I,Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Caspase-Dependent,Apoptosis, Classic,Apoptosis, Classical,Caspase Dependent Apoptosis,Cell Death, Programmed,Classic Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis