Objectives: Our work was aimed at investigating the impact and regulatory mechanism of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on exogenous scrotal heat stress (HS)-induced testicular injuries in rats.
Methods: The rats (n = 32) were assigned into four groups: control, HS control, HS+CoQ10, and CoQ10. To induce HS, rats' testicles were immersed in a water bath at 43°C for 20 min, every other day for 8 weeks. Moreover, treatment with CoQ10 (10 mg/kg) immediately started before inducing HS and continued for 8 weeks.
Key findings: HS decreased the activity of the testicular antioxidant system, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase, while the amount of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) was increased. The index of apoptosis and mRNA expression of caspase 3 and Bax were increased, while the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD3 decreased after HS. Exposure to HS decreased the serum testosterone level but increased the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Deleterious effects of HS on the mentioned parameters were reduced when the rats were treated with CoQ10.
Conclusions: CoQ10 could suppress the degenerative effects following testicular hyperthermia via its antiapoptotic, anti-inflammation, antioxidative, and androgen synthesis effects.
Keywords: Apoptosis; CoQ10; inflammation; oxidative stress; scrotal hyperthermia; testis.