The effect of L-carnitine in reactive oxygen species reduction and apoptotic gene expression in mice after cyclophosphamide: An experimental study

Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP), a utilized anticancer drug, is known to cause infertility in women. However, L-carnitine (LC), an antioxidant, has been shown to offer protective benefits against infertility. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic gene expression in mice treated with CP and LC. Materials and Methods: ۲۴ NMRI female mice (۶-۸ wk, ۳۰ ± ۵ gr) were divided into ۴ groups: control group: received normal saline intraperitoneal (IP) injection for ۱۰ days; CP group: received ۷۵ mg/kg of CP as a single IP on the ۱۰th day of the experiment; LC group: received ۲۰۰ mg/kg of LC IP for ۱۰ days; LC+CP group: received LC for ۱۰ days and CP single IP injection on the ۱۰th day of the experiment. After ۱۰ days, mice were superovulated. The oviducts were then removed, and the oocytes of each group were collected for evaluating apoptotic gene expression B-cell lymphoma ۲ (Bcl۲), Bcl۲-associated X (Bax), and Caspase۳ via real-time polymerase chain reaction and intracellular ROS levels by dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate fluorescence staining. Results: Data revealed that LC in the LC+CP group significantly increased Bcl۲ gene expression (p = ۰.۰۱), and decreased Bax and Caspase۳ gene expression compared to the CP group (p = ۰.۰۳, p = ۰.۰۴). LC decreased the ROS level in the LC+CP group compared to the CP group (p < ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Findings suggest that LC can scavenge the ROS caused by CP and modulate the apoptotic pathway via downregulating the Bax and Caspase۳ genes and upregulating the Bcl۲ gene in oocytes of mice exposed to CP.

کلیدواژه ها:

Carnitine ، Cyclophosphamide ، Apoptosis ، Genes ، Reactive oxygen species. ، کارنیتین ، سیکلوفسفامید ، آپوپتوز ، ژن ها ، گونه های فعال اکسیژن.