Study the Effect of Silymarin on Cyclophosphamide Induced Testicular Damage in Adult Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: cyclophosphamide one of toxicants that induce testicular damage. Silymarin has antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. Aim: assess the effect of silymarin on cyclophosphamide induced testicular damage in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 40 adult albino male rats that were divided into 4 groups. control group: were injected intraperitoneally with carboxy-methylcellulose daily for six weeks. Cyclophosphamide group: were injected intra-peritoneally with cyclophosphamide only once, then continuous injection of carboxy methylcellulose for the rest of six weeks. Silymarin group were injected intraperitoneally with silymarin once per day for six weeks. Cyclophosphamide and Silymarin were injected intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide only once and then injected with Silymarin for six weeks. Serum testosterone, FSH, LH level, oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzymes, apoptotic marker, testicular histopathology, sperm count and testicular weights were assessed.Results: Cyclophosphamide significantly decreased levels of measured hormones, antioxidant enzyme, testicular weight and sperm count but significantly increased the oxidative stress biomarkers. Also, it induced degeneration and necrosis of seminiferous tubules. silymarin illustrated a significant increase in levels of measured hormones, antioxidant enzyme, testicular weight and sperm count but a significant decrease in the oxidative stress biomarkers. Normal testicular architecture was noticed with silymarin treatment. Conclusion: Silymarin has antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities that enable it to improve testicular function after its damage by cyclophosphamide.

Hepatoprotective effects of silymarin on cyclophosphamide-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats

“…In the present study, silymarin was used as an antioxidant, and we found that rats exposed to CP plus silymarin had higher levels of antioxidative markers such as GSH, SOD, and CAT and lower levels of MDA (free radicals' markers). Similar results to our study were recorded in rats' liver, kidney, and testis exposed to CP plus silymarin compared to CP only (10,11,24). In this study, the antioxidant property of silymarin exposure plus CP led to ameliorating the structural pathological changes that appeared due to only CP exposure.…”

“…Silymarin is one of the most potent hepatoprotective chemicals, a natural flavonoid produced from Milk thistle or Silybum marianum (a member of the Asteraceae family) (8). Silymarin has antiinflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant effects by scavenging free radicals and raising glutathione peroxidase levels (9,10).…”

Hesperidin Mitigates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Testicular Dysfunction via Altering the Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal Axis and Testicular Steroidogenesis, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Male Rats

“…Additionally, FSH and LH play a role in regulating Leydig cell function to produce testosterone in males [ 8 ]. CP markedly reduced the serum levels of testosterone, FSH, LH, and prolactin [ 11 ], even at a single dose of 100 mg/kg [ 34 ]. The results of this study indicated that CP affected spermatogenesis by interfering with cellular processes as well as the pituitary–testicular axis.…”