Abstract
This study investigated the protective effects of minocycline against acrylamide (ACR)-induced neurotoxicity and testicular damage in Sprague-Dawley rats. Forty rats were divided into five groups (eight rats each). Group I received saline (0.5 mL/rat) daily for 10 days and served as the untreated control group. Group II received ACR (30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) daily for 10 days. Group III received ACR (30 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 10 days and subsequently minocycline (60 mg/kg b.w.) for five days. Group IV received ACR (30 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 10 days followed by saline for five days and served as the control group for the ACR-minocycline-treated group. Group V received minocycline (60 mg/kg b.w.) for five days. All treatments were administered orally. Rats in group I and V showed normal locomotor behavior and normal histology of the brain and testes. Administration of ACR (Group II and IV) resulted in weight loss and gait abnormalities. Furthermore, neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus and cerebellum and degeneration of the seminiferous tubular epithelium with formation of spermatid giant cells were observed. Ultrastructurally, ACR specifically damaged spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Acrylamide was also seen to cause a significant increase of malondialdehyde levels in the brain and testes. Treatment of ACR-administered rats with minocycline (Group III) significantly alleviated the loss of body weight and improved locomotor function. Minocycline also ameliorated neuronal degeneration and seminiferous tubular damage and decreased malondialdehyde concentrations. In conclusion, minocycline protects against neurotoxic effects of acrylamide and seminiferous tubular damage. Decreasing lipid peroxidation by minocycline might play a role in such protection.