Echis ocellatus venom-induced sperm functional deficits, pro-apoptotic and inflammatory activities in male reproductive organs in rats: antagonistic role of kaempferol.

BACKGROUND: Echis ocellatus envenoming is potentially toxic initiating clinical damages on male reproductive system. Kaempferol is a therapeutic agent with neutralizing potentials on snake venom toxins. This study investigated the antagonistic effect of kaempferol on E. ocellatus venom (EoV)-induced reproductive toxicities. METHODS: Fifty adult male rats were sorted at random into five groups of ten rats for this study. The control rats were allotted to group 1, while rats in groups 2-5 were injected with 0.22 mg/kg bw (LD50) of EoV intraperitoneally. Rats in group 2 were not treated while groups 3-5 rats were treated with serum antivenom (0.2 ml), and 4 and 8 mg/kg bw of kaempferol post envenoming, respectively. RESULTS: EoV actuated reproductive toxicity, significantly decreased sperm parameters, and enhanced inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptotic biomarkers in reproductive organs of untreated envenomed rats. However, treatment with kaempferol alleviated the venom-induced reproductive disorders with a dose dependent effect. Kaempferol significantly increased the testicular weight, organo-somatic index, sperm parameters, and normalized the levels of serum luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and follicle stimulating hormone. Kaempferol ameliorated testicular and epididymal oxidative stress as evidenced by significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, enhancement of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. The inflammatory biomarkers; nitric oxide (NO) levels and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), and apoptotic biomarkers; caspase 3 and caspase 9 activities were substantially suppressed in the testis and epididymis of envenomed rats treated with kaempferol. CONCLUSION: Results revealed kaempferol as a potential remedial agent against reproductive toxicity that could manifest post-viper envenoming.

Kaempferol mitigates reproductive dysfunctions induced by Naja nigricollis venom through antioxidant system and anti-inflammatory response in male rats.

Naja nigricollis Venom (NnV) contains complex toxins that affects various vital systems functions after envenoming. The venom toxins have been reported to induce male reproductive disorders in envenomed rats. This present study explored the ameliorative potential of kaempferol on NnV-induced male reproductive toxicity. Fifty male wistar rats were sorted randomly into five groups (n = 10) for this study. Group 1 were noted as the control, while rats in groups 2 to 5 were injected with LD50 of NnV (1.0 mg/kg bw; i.p.). Group 2 was left untreated post envenomation while group 3 was treated with 0.2 ml of polyvalent antivenom. Groups 4 and 5 were treated with 4 and 8 mg/kg of kaempferol, respectively. NnV caused substantial reduction in concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone and luteinizing hormone, while sperm motility, volume and counts significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in envenomed untreated rats. The venom enhanced malondialdehyde levels and substantially decreased glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the testes and epididymis of envenomed untreated rats. Additionally, epididymal and testicular myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels were elevated which substantiated severe morphological defects noticed in the reproductive organs. However, treatment of envenomed rats with kaempferol normalized the reproductive hormones with significant improvement on sperm functional parameters. Elevated inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in testis and epididymis were suppressed post kaempferol treatment. Severe histopathological lesions in the epididymal and testicular tissues were ameliorated in the envenomed treated groups. Results highlights the significance of kaempferol in mitigating reproductive toxicity induced after snakebite envenoming.