L-Cysteine Partially Protects Against Acrylamide-Induced Testicular Toxicity

BACKGROUND: Acrylamide is a widespread substance with many areas of utilization. Acrylamide also forms a part of high-temperature-processed starchy foods. To date, numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have documented that acrylamide poses toxic effects on various organ systems. AIMS: To determine the potential protective effect of L-cysteine on acrylamide-induced testicular toxicity. STUDY DESIGN: Animal experimentation. METHODS: We randomly divided 28 rats into four groups: control (0.9% saline), L-cysteine (150 mg/kg), acrylamide (40 mg/kg), and acrylamide+L-cysteine. After a 10-day intraperitoneal injection period, we euthanized the animals, recorded their body and testis weights, collected blood samples for serum testosterone measurement, and excised the testes for histopathological and morphometric evaluation. Immunohistochemical scoring of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and bax proteins was performed. RESULTS: Acrylamide reduced body (p<0.01) and testis weights (p<0.05), seminiferous tubule diameter (p<0.001), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression (p<0.05) but increased bax protein expression (p<0.01) and the percentage of seminiferous tubules containing multinucleated giant cells (p<0.001). However, no significant change was observed in serum testosterone level of the experimental groups when compared with that of controls. L-cysteine administered with acrylamide decreased multinucleated giant cell number (p<0.001) and reversed the reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity (p<0.001) but showed no effect in restoring other parameters compared with the group treated with acrylamide alone. CONCLUSION: Considering the dose and duration employed, the present study concluded that L-cysteine partially protects testis against acrylamide-induced toxic effects.