Micronutrient antioxidant supplementation alleviates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress and male infertility via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Valproic Acid (VPA), a widely used anticonvulsant, is known to induce oxidative stress, contributing to male infertility. This study explores the potential of micronutrient antioxidants to improve fertility in VPA-treated individuals.

Methods

Six-week-old male mice were treated with VPA and supplemented with antioxidants, including l-Arginine (120 mg/kg), N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) (2 mg/kg), Taurine (200 mg/kg), L-Tryptophan (0.5 mg/kg), Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) (1.5 mg/kg), and Selenium (0.5 mg/kg). The dosing regimen lasted for 34 days. Sperm quality, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed through gene expression analysis, western blotting, histological assessments, TUNEL assays, and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, GC-2spd(ts) and HepG2 cell l

SUBMITTER: Asghar MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12182380 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature