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d-Aspartic acid induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in testis of prepubertal rats

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Abstract

Previously we demonstrated the potential of d-aspartic acid (d-Asp), an acidic amino acid to induce oxidative response in prepubertal rat testis in vitro. In the present study, we determined the extent of oxidative stress in the testis of prepubertal rats that were administered d-Asp (100 and 500 mg/kg bw/d, i.p. 7 days). d-Asp treatment significantly elevated the levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and hydroperoxide in cytosol and mitochondria of testis, which were accompanied by enhanced glutathione levels, elevated activities of glutathione-dependent enzymes and catalase suggesting a state of oxidative stress. Further, the activities of d-aspartate oxidase and 3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase were elevated in the testis. The testis mitochondria of d-Asp-treated rats showed altered citric acid and complex enzyme activities, reduction in membrane potential, increased permeability and intracellular Ca2+ levels. Collectively, these findings suggest the potential of d-Asp to induce oxidative perturbations in the testis of prepubertal rats and this mechanism may in part be responsible for the observed physiological effects.

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Abbreviations

d-AspO:

d-Aspartate oxidase

DCF:

Dichlorofluorescein

4-HNE:

4-hydroxy nonenal

HEPES:

N-2hydroxyethylpiperazin-N2-ethanesulfonic acid

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MPT:

Membrane permeability transition

NO:

Nitric oxide

NMDA:

N-Methyl-d-aspartate

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, Government of India (DST-SR/SO/AS-48) to the senior author. The first author (KNC) gratefully acknowledges the granting agency for the financial assistance in the form of a Junior Research Fellowship.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mysore, 570020, India

    K. N. Chandrashekar &  Muralidhara

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  1. K. N. Chandrashekar
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  2. Muralidhara
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Correspondence to Muralidhara.

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Presented in part during the “International Conference on Emerging Trends in Free Radical and Antioxidant Research”—Third Biennial Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research, Asia (SFRR Asia) and Sixth Annual Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research, India (SFRR India)—held during January 8–11, 2007 at Lonavala, India.

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Chandrashekar, K.N., Muralidhara d-Aspartic acid induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in testis of prepubertal rats. Amino Acids 38, 817–827 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0288-x

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