Glycine intervention can alleviate imidacloprid-induced spermatogenic damage in rats

Abstract

Imidacloprid (IMI) is the first neonicotinoid pesticide with documented associations to substantial harm in multiple organs, notably impacting spermatogenesis in the reproductive system. Given the inevitable exposure to pesticides like IMI through dietary sources, employing dietary interventions to counteract the spermatogenic system damage caused by IMI exposure is a promising approach. Glycine (Gly), an amino acid abundantly found in various dietary sources, has been observed to be diminished in rat individuals exposed to IMI. The current study aims to explore the potential of Gly diet supplementation to alleviate the reproductive system damage caused by IMI. Utilizing a rat model subjected to IMI exposure, interventions with 2.5% and 5% dietary glycine were implemented. The findings revealed that with the dose increase of Gly intervention, testicular tissue morphology was improved, and the number of sperm in the testicle was also increased significantly (p < 0.01). Gly regulated the expression of key enzymes in testosterone hormone synthesis, including P450c17, P450scc, 17β-HSD, and 3β-HSD, enhancing the enzymatic activity of testicular support cells, particularly evident with high-dose Gly intervention. Furthermore, Gly intervention reduced IMI-induced oxidative stress, thereby ameliorating spermatogenic impairment as indicated by decreased superoxide dismutase activity and increased glutathione peroxidase activity. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of Gly supplementation as a beneficial strategy to mitigate spermatogenic injury caused by IMI exposure in male rats, highlighting its potential as a dietary intervention for protecting against reproductive toxicity associated with pesticide exposure.