Leiotrametes lactinea (Berk.) Induces Sperm Dysmorphogenesis and Testicular Damage Via Oxidative and Inflammatory Pathways in Mice

Year 2025, Volume: 50 Issue: 2, 243 - 258, 26.08.2025

Ayomide Adedamola , Deborah Ifeoluwa Tolulope Blessing Precious Ulonnam Wendy Bridget Oyindamola Abiodun

Abstract

Leiotrametes lactinea (Berk.) had antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-ulcer activities. However, little has been reported on its safety in the male reproductive system, if used for these therapeutic potentials. Thus, this study evaluated the safety profile of ethanol extract of Leiotrametes lactinea (EELL) on the reproductive system of male Swiss mice. For acute toxicity study, 15 mice were grouped into 5 (n = 3). Each group received a single dose of EELL at 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 mg/kg or distilled water (10 mL/kg) and were observed for 14 days for toxicity sign or mortality. Subsequently, twenty-four mice were grouped into four (n = 6) for sub-acute toxicity study to receive distilled water or graded doses of EELL (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) for 30 days. Thereafter, under anesthesia, the testes, epididymis, and blood were collected from the animals. Hormonal, and biochemical parameters were assayed. With no death recorded in the acute toxicity study, median lethal dose was assumed to be > 5000 mg/kg. However, subacute toxicity study showed significant alterations in sperm parameters, decreased testicular catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels while malondialdehyde level increased. Similarly, inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) were significantly elevated. Serum testosterone level significantly reduced at 200 mg/kg dose and testicular histology was disrupted at all doses with evidence of infiltration of inflammatory cells.
Sub-acute administration of EELL induces reproductive toxicity in male Swiss mice at the tested doses via induction of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Keywords

Leiotrametes lactinea , reproductive toxicity , sperm parameters

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for the use and care of animals was sought and gotten from the University of Ibadan Animal Care and Use Research Ethics Committee (UI-ACUREC/051/2022A).

Supporting Institution

University of Ibadan

References

• Wang, J., Wang, A., He, H., She, X., He, Y., Li, S.,..., & Zou, K. (2019). Trametenolic acid B protects against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury through modulation of microRNA-10a and PI3K/ Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 112, 108692. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108692. Welti, S., Moreau, P., Pierre, A., Favel, A., Courtecuisse, R., Haon, M.,..., & Lesage, M. L. (2012). Molecular phylogeny of Trametes and related genera, and description of a new genus Leiotrametes. Fungal Diversity, 55(1), 47-64. doi:10.1007/s13225011-0149-2