Abstract
Objectives: Acrylamide (AA) has many applications in the chemical industry. It has been shown to be a reproductive toxicant in animals and is associated with risk of cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) against AA induced testicular and geno-toxicity.
Design: Experimental study
Setting: King Fand Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Intervention: Animals were orally gavaged with AA at a dose of 45 mg/kg/day for five consecutive days and 5-ASA was injected concomitantly at two different doses, 25 and 50 mg/kg/day.
Main Outcome Measures: Effect on epididymal sperm count, on histological changes in the testis, on COMET assay in blood leukocytes, on serum testosterone level and on CYP2E1 expression in liver and testis (S9) fractions
Results: COMET assay undertaken on blood leukocytes showed geno-toxicity in the form of COMET cells with increased tail movement, while ELISA of serum testosterone showed severe reduction in testosterone level, which was reversed by concomitant 5-ASA treatment. ELISA of CYP2E1 showed a two-fold higher concentration in control liver S9 when compared to control testis S9. 5-ASA (50 mg/kg) induced the level of liver CYP2E1, potentially increasing AA metabolism and clearance. Light microscopy examination showed multinudeated giant cells and tubular atrophy in the testis after AA treatment.
Conclusion: At the used dose, AA caused toxic effects in male rat that can be reduced by concomitant treatment with 5-ASA, which might be considered as an antidote to AA toxicity in victims of AA poisoning.