Effect of chrysin on methotrexate-induced testicular damage in rats

Abstract

This study was conducted on 28 male Wistar albino rats to determine the effects of chrysin on methotrexate‐induced damage to testicular tissue. Rats were grouped into four groups of seven rats reach: Group 1 (n = 7) was the control group to which no drugs were administered; this group was only provided with food and water. Group 2 (n = 7) was administered 20 mg/kg of methotrexate once intraperitoneally. Group 3 (n = 7) was administered 50 mg/kg of chrysin for 7 days orally. Group 4 (n = 7) was administered 20 mg/kg of methotrexate once intraperitoneally, followed by oral administration of 50 mg/kg of chrysin for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, rats were anaesthetised, rat testes were removed, and spermatozoon was obtained from the cauda epididymis. It was determined that sperm count and motility, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities decreased in the methotrexate group, whereas malondialdehyde, tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β and nuclear kappa factor B expression levels increased. Furthermore, damage to tubulus seminiferus structures and affusion in germ cells was identified. In the methotrexate + chrysin administered group, sperm count improved, biochemical enzyme levels increased, and structural improvements were observed in testicular tubules. These findings demonstrated that chrysin plays a protective role in testicular damage in rats.

The Possible Contribution of P-Glycoprotein in the Protective Effect of Paeonol against Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Injury in Rats

“…Moreover, MTX resulted in testicular functional impairment in the form of significantly decreased serum testosterone level and impaired spermatogenesis. These results are supported by the findings of previous studies [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], which demonstrated that a single dose of MTX was associated with testicular structural damage, impaired spermatogenesis, and decreased testosterone. Alternatively, pretreatment with paeonol mitigated the MTX-induced testicular injury, with marked preservation of normal testicular architecture as well as the functional ability of the treated testes, which is in agreement with our recent findings showing protection by paeonol against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury [ 19 ].…”

“…Oxidative stress, which arises as a result of the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the endogenous antioxidant system, is an important factor in MTX-induced testicular injury [ 6 , 7 , 22 , 25 ]. MTX can increase ROS production by the elevation of homocysteine [ 28 ], reduction of NADPH [ 29 ], and activation of NADPH oxidase [ 30 ].…”

Investigation of protective effects of lithium borate on spermatogenesis and testes histopathology against cadmium-induced acute toxicity in rats

“…8-OHdG expressions in the Cd group were severely observed. The expression of 8-OHdG in this toxicity is consistent with the literature (Belhan et al, 2017;Belhan et al, 2019).…”

Ginkgo biloba Extract Attenuates Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Injury in Rats: Cross-talk Between Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Apoptosis, and miRNA-29a Expression

“… 25 Group III: MTX group in which rats were intraperitoneally injected on the fifth day with a single dose 20 mg/kg methotrexate (MTX, 50 mg, TP, Shanxi PUDE Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanxi, China). 14 , 33 Group IV: GIN + MTX group in which rats received 100 mg/kg Ginkgo biloba extract daily for 10 days by oral gavage 25 with MTX injection on day 5.…”

“… 12 , 13 As the testis was susceptible to MTX toxicity, subsequent oxidative damage with destruction in the membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation occurred. 12 - 14 …”