Protection of apigenin against acrylonitrile-induced sperm and testis injury in rats: involvement of activation of ASK1-JNK/p38 signaling pathway

Abstract

This study aims to clarify if apigenin (AP) could play a pivotal role in attenuating acrylonitrile (ACN)-induced sperm and testis injury by inhibiting ASK1-JNK/p38 signaling pathway. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: a control group (corn oil), an ACN group (ACN 46 mg kg−1), an ACN + AP1 group (ACN + AP 117 mg kg−1), an ACN + AP2 group (ACN + AP 234 mg kg−1) and an ACN + AP3 group (ACN + AP 351 mg kg−1). The ACN + AP groups were given ACN by gavage after a pretreatment with different dosages of AP for 30 min, whereas the rats in the control group received an equivalent volume of corn oil. The gavage was conducted for 6 days per week in 4 weeks. The results showed that AP reduced sperm deformity rate and DNA fragment index and attenuated the testicular injury induced by ACN. AP could also alleviate oxidative stress, downregulate ASK1-JNK/p38 signaling pathway and eventually inhibit mitochondria-mediated testicular apoptosis. In brief, AP could dampen oxidative stress thereby inhibiting testicular apoptosis mediated by ASK1-JNK/p38 signaling pathway, alleviating ACN-induced sperm and testis injury and exerting a protective effect on male reproductive system.