We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Curcumin Attenuates Zearalenone-Induced Reproductive Damage in Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbe–Testis Axis
Summary
Researchers investigated whether curcumin, a compound from turmeric, could protect mice from reproductive damage caused by the food-contaminating toxin zearalenone. They found that curcumin improved sperm quality and testicular health by restoring beneficial gut bacteria and reducing inflammation through the gut-testis connection. The study suggests that gut microbiome modulation could be a pathway for protecting reproductive health from environmental toxins.
Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin commonly found in cereal crops and foods, induces testicular damage and disrupts gut microbial composition. Curcumin (CUR), a bioactive compound derived from turmeric, is known to enhance intestinal microbial balance and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which CUR alleviates ZEN-induced reductions in sperm quality through the modulation of the gut microbiota-testis axis. Forty-eight 6-week-old Balb/c male mice were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: control (CON), CUR (200 mg/kg body weight CUR), ZEN (40 mg/kg body weight ZEN), and ZEN + CUR (200 mg/kg CUR + 40 mg/kg ZEN). The degree of sperm damage was quantified by assessing both the survival rate and the morphological integrity of the spermatozoa. CUR was found to mitigate ZEN-induced reductions in the testosterone levels, testicular structural damage, and disrupted spermatogenesis. Exposure to ZEN markedly perturbed the gut microbiota, characterized by increased relative abundances of Prevotella and Bacteroides and a concomitant reduction in Lactobacillus. These alterations were accompanied by pronounced activation of the IL-17A-TNF-α signaling axis, as demonstrated by elevated transcriptional and translational expression of pathway-associated genes and proteins. Co-administration of CUR effectively reinstated microbial homeostasis and mitigated ZEN-induced IL-17A pathway activation. In conclusion, ZEN induces testicular inflammation and reduced sperm quality by lowering testosterone levels and disrupting gut microbial balance, which drives the testicular IL-17A signaling pathway. CUR alleviates ZEN-induced testicular inflammation and sperm quality reduction by restoring beneficial gut microbes and testosterone levels.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Curcumin Ameliorates Microplastic-Induced Testicular Inflammatory Damage by Suppressing NLRP3 and WNT/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Activation
Researchers exposed rodents to microplastics and found the particles triggered two inflammation pathways — NLRP3 inflammasome and WNT/beta-catenin signaling — that together damaged testicular tissue and disrupted sperm-supporting cells. Treatment with curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, suppressed both pathways and largely restored normal function, pointing toward potential natural interventions for microplastic-related reproductive harm.
Probiotics improve polystyrene microplastics-induced male reproductive toxicity in mice by alleviating inflammatory response
Researchers found that giving mice probiotics (beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) helped protect against reproductive damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. The microplastics disrupted gut bacteria and triggered inflammation that traveled to the testes via the gut-testis connection, reducing sperm quality and testosterone levels. Probiotic treatment restored healthy gut bacteria and reduced the inflammatory response, suggesting that maintaining gut health could help counteract some reproductive harm from microplastic exposure.
Curcumin Mitigates Microplastic-Induced Damage in Livestock and Poultry: Mechanistic Insights and Strategies for Sustainable Farming
This review examines how curcumin, a natural compound from turmeric, can protect livestock and poultry from microplastic-induced damage. The research shows that curcumin activates antioxidant defenses and reduces inflammation caused by microplastic exposure in animals, suggesting that natural dietary supplements may offer a strategy for mitigating some health effects of plastic contamination.
Probiotics as a therapeutic approach to alleviate reproductive harm from polystyrene microplastics in male rats
Researchers tested whether probiotic supplementation could protect against reproductive toxicity caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in male rats, finding that PS-MP caused dose-dependent testicular damage and disrupted kisspeptin signaling in the hypothalamus. Probiotics partially reversed these effects, suggesting a gut-testis axis through which microbiome modulation may mitigate reproductive harm.
Protective effect of curcumin against microplastic and nanoplastics toxicity
Researchers reviewed studies examining whether curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, can protect against the toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics in the body. Evidence indicates that curcumin helped reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and organ damage caused by plastic particle exposure across multiple organ systems in animal studies. The review suggests that natural antioxidant compounds like curcumin may hold promise for mitigating some of the harmful effects of plastic pollution on health.