Biochemical studies and expression of Atg7/LC3 autophagy genes in mephalan-induced testicular dysfunction

Autophagy is an intracellular lysosomal degradation pathway and plays a very important role in maintaining intracellular homeostasis. This present study demonstrates the biochemical status and expression of ATG7/LC3 autophagic genes in Melphalan-induced testicular dysfunction. Twenty make Swiss albino mice were maintained under standard conditions of humidity (50 ± 5%), temperature (25 ± 2° C) with free access to food and water. The mice were divided into five groups (n=5 each) and treated by intraperitoneal injection as follows; Group I: vehicle-treated control; Group II: 1 mg/kg/BWT MEP; Group III: 3mg/kg/BWT MEP; Group IV: 5mg/kg/BWT MEP. Histopathological and histochemical evaluation by light microscopy, biochemical assays and sperm parameters evaluation are the various investigation depicted in this study. Result shows a rise percentage of DNA damage and teratozoospermia Index (TZI); decrease of protein concentration and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Testosterone concentration was depleted. The result also shows a significant decrease of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) level across the groups when compared to the control. This study confirms oxidative stress by increased ROS and MDA levels in the testes of the melphalan-treated mice and defective antioxidants response as evident from diminished activities of antioxidant enzymes. The autophagic gene markers showed an upstream Atg7 gene and downstream of LC3-II/LC3-I ratio. Autophagy is mediated by the expression of Atg7 and LC3 genes and these varying mRNA expression led to autophagic defect.