Long‐term ethanol consumption increase changes in β-defensin isoform gene expression and oxidativ DNA damage to the epididymis structural of rats

Background and Aim : Among different parts of the male reproductive system, the epididymis plays an important role in sperm Process. during epididymal transit, sperms are protected against autoimmunity and harmful bacteria by proteins secreted from epididymal epithelial cells. the β-defensin family is a group of proteins secreted from the epididymal epithelium. these proteins contribute to sperm maturation and antimicrobial defense of the epididymis duct in the reproductive system. furthermore β-defensin proteins play a fundamental role in the modulation of sperm function and maturation during spermatozoa transition through the epididymis duct. only a few comprehensive studies have been carried out on the effects of ethanol consumption on the epididymis function. therefore, in the current study, we evaluated the possible adverse effects of ethanol on the caput segment of epididymis tissue of male rats at molecular levels after chronic ethanol exposure. we proposed that chronic ethanol consumption, resulting in sperm abnormalities, is partly mediated by the gene expression transition of β-defensin isoforms.Methods : 16 male Wistar rats (four months old) after 1 week of acclimatization, were randomly divided into two experimental groups (n = 8) of control and ethanol. The ethanol group received 4.5 g/kg BW of ethanol mixed in tap water (20% w/v) intragastrically by gavage once a day for 6 weeks. The mean body weight was measured weekly from the beginning to the end of the study to recalculate the dose of ethanol. the control rats received an equal volume of tap water. The frozen right epididymis was used for total RNA extraction to evaluate the gene expression of β-defensin isoforms. DNA oxidase content of the epididymis tissue was measured by quantitative (ELISA), using a commercial rat for NADPH Oxidase.Results : In the current study, after 6 weeks of ethanol consumption, the level of DNA oxidase increased significantly in the ethanol group (p < 0.01), compared with the control group, which produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in epididymis tissues, was higher in the ethanol group, compared with the controls. Ethanol administration significantly increased the mRNA expression of epididymal -defensin isoforms 15 and 21 (p < 0.01), in the ethanol group compared with the controls.Conclusion : the results of our study showed a significant increase in the mRNA expression of β-defensins 15 and 21 in the mRNA expression of β-defensins in the ethanol group, compared with the control group. The results of the present study demonstrated that long-term ethanol consumption could induce structural changes in the epididymis, associated with increased oxidative DNA damage, and alterations in the gene expression of β-defensin isoforms. our findings present a new perspective on ethanol-induced epididymal damage. however, further research is still required to elucidate this findingIn addition.

کلیدواژه ها:

ethanol ، β-defensin ، epididymis