Improvement of cisplatin-induced injuries to sperm quality, the oxidant-antioxidant system, and the histologic structure of the rat testis by ellagic acid.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether ellagic acid (EA) has a possible protective effect against cisplatin (CP)-induced negative changes in epididymal sperm characteristics and the histologic structure of testis and prostate associated with oxidative stress in rats.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Firat University Medical School Experimental Research Center, Elazig, Turkey.


METHODS
Eight-week-old adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24).


METHODS
Cisplatin was administered to rats at a single dose of 7 mg/kg IP. Ellagic acid was administered both separately and simultaneously with CP by gavage daily for 10 days at the dose of 10 mg/kg.


METHODS
Reproductive organ weights, epididymal sperm characteristics, and histopathologic structure of testes and ventral prostate were determined along with malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities of plasma, sperm, and testicular tissue.


RESULTS
Ellagic acid ameliorated the CP-induced reductions in weights of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, and prostate along with epididymal sperm concentration and motility. Additionally, EA decreased the CP-induced increments in abnormalities of sperm. Whereas CP increased the MDA levels of plasma, sperm, and testicular tissue, it decreased the GSH-Px and CAT activities in the study samples compared with the control group. The administration of EA to CP-treated rats decreased the MDA level and increased GSH-Px and CAT activities in these samples. Cisplatin caused degeneration, necrosis, interstitial edema, and reduction in germinative cell layer thickness and rarely reduction in spermatogenic activity in some seminiferous tubules. The CP-induced changes in histopathologic findings of testis were partially reversed by treatment with EA. No significant changes were observed in the histopathologic structure of the prostate among any of groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Ellagic acid has a protective effect against testicular toxicity caused by CP. This protective effect of EA seems to be closely involved with the suppressing of oxidative stress.
Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey. gturk@firat.edu.tr
Gaffari
G
Türk
Ahmet
A
Ateşşahin
Mustafa
M
Sönmez
Ali Osman
AO
Ceribaşi
Abdurrauf
A
Yüce
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004610:Ellagic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D004610:Ellagic Acid; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; D002945:Cisplatin