Papel protetor da infusão do chá verde sobre o dano induzido pela ciclofosfamida no sistema reprodutor de camundongos

Abstract

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agent used to treat various types of tumors and in some autoimmune diseases. CP is considered a prodrug, therefore, must undergo hepatic biotransformation to form its active metabolites, such as phosphoramide mustard and acrolein. Its therapeutic metabolite, phosphoramide mustard, is responsible for the cytotoxic effect on tumor cells, while acrolein is known to provide a secondary toxic effect by increasing the reactive oxygen species production, causing oxidative stress. This might be directly related to the fertility reduction caused by this drug. Therefore, natural compounds with antioxidant activity could be an alternative to the damage caused by CP. Green tea, obtained from the plant Camellia sinensis, has antioxidant and free radical scavenging effect, due to the high content of polyphenols. The present study evaluates the protective role of the green tea infusion on oxidative damage on male mice reproductive system, and their relationship to fertility after an acute administration of CP. The mice were pre-treated by gavage with vehicle or green tea daily for 14 days at dose of 250 mg/kg. CP was administered intraperitoneally on day 14, 1 hour after administration of tea at dose of 100 mg/kg. Mice were euthanized 24 hours after the administration of the CP and testes and epididymis were removed for further biochemical analysis and sperm assessment. The content of catechins, the main constituents of green tea were evaluated by HPLC. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is present in high concentrations in our infusion (1340.2 μg/ml), followed by epicatechin (EC-500.95 μg/ml) and epicatechin gallate (ECG-302.84 μg/mL). CP caused oxidative stress in the reproductive system of animals, evidenced in this work by damaging not only lipids, but also proteins and DNA. CP increased lipid peroxidation (MDA), DNA damage (comet assay) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, while decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activity in both tissues tested. Catalase (CAT) activity and quantification of protein carbonyl were altered only in testes but not in the epididymis. Regarding sperm evaluation, CF significantly decreased only sperm concentration, compared to the control group. Pre-treatment with green tea infusion significantly reduced MDA production, protein carbonylation, DNA damage and restored GPx and GST activity. In epididymis, green tea also increased sperm concentration and restored 17 β-HSD activity. Green tea infusion improves the damage induced by CP in the reproductive system of mice, and this effect is attributed to the high content of catechins in tea and its antioxidant activity.