Protective effect of Gallic acid on doxorubicin-induced testicular and epididymal toxicity

Abstract

The effect of Gallic acid (GA) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced testicular and epididymal toxicity was investigated in experimental rat model. The rats were randomly divided into six groups of 10 animals per group. Rats in group A received clean tap water ad libitum. Rats in group B were administered DOX intraperitoneally at 15 mg/kg on the eighth day of the experiment. Animals in groups C and D received 60 and 120 mg/kg GA orally for 7 days with 15 mg/kg DOX on the eighth day. Rats in groups E and F received 60 and 120 mg/kg GA alone orally for 7 days. The animals were sacrificed 24 hr after the last administration. DOX administration led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels with significant reduction in antioxidant enzymes and reduced glutathione levels. DOX administration also led to a significant increase in total sperm abnormalities and prolactin together with a significant decrease in testosterone levels. Immunohistochemistry revealed higher expressions of caspase 3 in the testicular tissues of rats that received DOX alone. Together, pre-treatment with GA attenuated markers of oxidative stress, reversed sperm abnormality and ameliorated the observed aberration in plasma testosterone and prolactin levels.

Fluvastatin attenuates doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity in rats by reducing oxidative stress and regulating the blood–testis barrier via mTOR signaling pathway

“…In fact, many studies shown that there was a decrease in epididymal sperm count in parallel with the decrease in testosterone level after DOX exposure. 47,62,65,68 In our study, we found a significant decrease in the levels of testosterone and epididymal sperm counts in DOX-treated groups in parallel with the literature. On the other hand, the fact that testosterone levels and epididymal sperm counts were significantly higher in the prophylaxis and treatment groups compared to the DOX group indicates that fluvastatin applied to these groups may have a protective effect on spermatogenesis in testicular toxicity after DOX exposure.…”

Gallic and carnosic acids improve quality of frozen‐thawed ram spermatozoa

“…Furthermore, feeding diabetic rats 10 or 40 mg/kg of Vernonia cinerea L., plants, containing phytochemicals that include GA, improved number of spermatozoa, their motility and blood testosterone concentrations (Pomjunya et al, ). In other studies, GA (60 or 120 mg/kg for 7 or 14 d respectively) decreased percentage abnormal spermatozoa and reproductive toxicity in rats given anti‐cancer and anti‐neoplastic drugs, with concurrent increases in motility and viability of epididymal spermatozoa (Olusoji et al, ; Oyagbemi et al, ). However, in the present study, addition of CA to extender did not significantly improve motility of frozen‐thawed ram spermatozoa.…”

Effects of <i>Vernonia cinerea</i> on reproductive performance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…Our result showed that VC treatment could improve sperm concentration and motility, increase serum testosterone concentration, decrease the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa and restore the normal testicular structure. Previous studies have reported that some phytochemicals including gallic acid has the potential to protect against oxidative stress in the testes and to reversed sperm abnormalities [25, 34]. Another study showed that selenium had beneficial effects on male infertility, wherein it improved the sperm count and motility, increased serum testosterone levels and alleviated the histopathological changes in the testes [3, 32, 33].…”