Lycopene Alleviates Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle-Induced Testicular Toxicity by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Mice

Purpose The research was carried out to investigate the possible ameliorative effect of lycopene on TiO 2 NPs-induced male reproductive toxicity and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Ninety-six healthy male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were equally divided into eight groups (control group, 50 mg/kg TiO 2 NPs group, 5 mg/kg LYC group, 20 mg/kg LYC group, 40 mg/kg LYC group, 50 mg/kg TiO 2 NPs + 5 mg/kg LYC group, 50 mg/kg TiO 2 NPs + 20 mg/kg LYC group, 50 mg/kg TiO 2 NPs + 40 mg/kg LYC group), and the mice were treated by intragastric administration every day for 30 days in this research. Sperm parameters, testicular histopathology, oxidant and antioxidant enzymes, and cell apoptosis-related protein expression in the testicular tissue were analyzed. Results The results showed that TiO 2 NPs exposure significantly decreased sperm count and motility, and TiO 2 NPs also increased sperm malformation in the epididymis; these characteristics were improved when co-administration with LYC. Testicular histopathological lesions like disorder of germ cells arrange, detachment, atrophy, and vacuolization were observed after TiO 2 NPs exposure, and these abnormalities were effectively ameliorated by co-administration with LYC. Oxidative stress was induced by TiO 2 NPs exposure as evidenced by increased the level of MDA and decreased the activity of SOD as well as the level of anti-O 2 − , and these alterations were effectively prevented by co-administration with LYC. LYC also alleviated TiO 2 NPs-induced germ cell apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as shown by the upregulation of Bcl-2, the downregulation of Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, and Cleaved Caspase 9. Conclusion LYC could ameliorate TiO 2 NPs-induced testicular damage via inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis, which could be used to alleviate the testicular toxicity associated with TiO 2 NPs intake.