Retracted: Research Article Flavocoxid Protects Against Cadmium-Induced Disruption of the Blood-Testis Barrier and Improves Testicular Damage and Germ Cell Impairment in Mice

• DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv185
• Publication Date: 2015-10-14T01:38:03Z
• Authors: Letteria Minutoli; Antonio Micali; Antonina Pisani; Domenico Puzzolo; Alessandra Bitto; Mariagrazia Rinaldi; Gabriele Pizzino; Natasha Irrera; Federica Galfo; Salvatore Arena; Giovanni Pallio; Anna Mecchio; Antonino Germanà; Daniele Bruschetta; Rosaria Laurà; Carlo Magno; Herbert Marini; Francesco Squadrito; Domenica Altavilla
• Keywords: Occludin; Cadmium chloride; Malondialdehyde; Reproductive toxicity

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) causes male infertility. There is the need to identify safe treatments counteracting this toxicity. Flavocoxid a flavonoid that induces balanced inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 peroxidase moieties 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) has efficacy in genitourinary system. We investigated flavocoxid effects on Cd-induced testicular toxicity mice. Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: 2 control groups received 0.9% NaCl (vehicle; 1 ml/kg/day) or (20 mg/kg/day ip); challenged with cadmium chloride (CdCl2; ip) administered vehicle flavocoxid. The treatment lasted for weeks. testes processed biochemical morphological studies. CdCl2 increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) 1/2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, COX-2, 5-LOX, malondialdehyde (MDA), B-cell-lymphoma (Bcl)-2-associated X protein (Bax), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing (LH), transforming growth (TGF) -β3, decreased Bcl-2, testosterone, inhibin-B, occludin, N-Cadherin, induced structural damages testis disrupted blood-testis barrier. Many TUNEL-positive germ cells changes claudin-11, N-cadherin localization present. administration reduced, time-dependent way, p-ERK TNF-α, MDA, Bax, FSH, LH, TGF-β3, augmented inhibin B, improved organization Few present retrieval intercellular junctions was observed. In conclusion, protective anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic function against testis. suggest may play relevant positive role environmental levels Cd, otherwise deleterious gametogenesis tubular integrity.