L-Carnitine protects against testicular dysfunction caused by gamma irradiation in mice

This study was conducted on mice to evaluate the radioprotective role of L-carnitine against gamma-ray irradiation-induced testicular damage. Adult male mice were exposed to whole body irradiation at a total dose of 1 Gy. Radiation exposure was continued 24h a day (0.1 Gy/day) throughout the 10 days exposure period either in the absence and/or presence of L-carnitine at an i.p. dose of 10 mg/kg body weight/day. Results revealed that gamma-rays irradiation suppressed the expression of ABP and CYP450(scc) mRNA, whereas treatment with L-carnitine prior and throughout gamma-rays irradiation exposure inhibited this suppression. Treatment with gamma-ray irradiation or L-carnitine down-regulated expression of aromatase mRNA. With combined treatment, L-carnitine significantly normalized aromatase expression. gamma-Ray irradiation up-regulated expression of FasL and Cyclin D2 mRNA, while L-carnitine inhibited these up-regulations. Results also showed that gamma-ray-irradiation up-regulated TNF-alpha, IL1-beta and IFN-gamma mRNA expressions compared to either controls or the L-carnitine treated group. Moreover, gamma-irradiation greatly reduced serum testosterone levels, while L-carnitine, either alone or in combination with irradiation, significantly increased serum testosterone levels compared to controls. In addition, gamma-irradiation induced high levels of sperm abnormalities (43%) which were decreased to 12% in the presence of L-carnitine. In parallel with these findings, histological examination showed that gamma-irradiation induced severe tubular degenerative changes, which were reduced by L-carnitine pre-treatment. These results clarified the immunostimulatory effects of L-carnitine and its radioprotective role against testicular injury. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.