title: Alleviating effect of Mallotus roxburghianus in heat-induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperthermia causes detrimental effects on the testes leading to fertility problems. Mallotus roxbhurghianus Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is used in traditional medicine and possesses antioxidant property. However, the mechanisms remain unknown in the context of alleviative action of M. roxburghianus against heat stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to demonstrate the alleviating activity of M. roxburghianus and its mechanism in scrotal hyperthermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scrotal hyperthermia experiments were performed in three groups (n = 7 per group) consisting of (i) the control group (C) maintained at 22 °C for 30 min, (ii) the heat stress-induced group (HS), and (iii) the heat stress-induced M. roxburghianus-treated group (HSM - 400 mg/kg each) in a thermostatically controlled water bath at 43 °C for 30 min. Subsequent to the heat treatment HS group, rats were treated with saline p.o and methanol extract of M. roxburghianus was administered to the rats of HSM group along with their standard food for 14 d. Scrotal hyperthermic effects were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scrotal hyperthermia significantly (p < 0.0001) elevated malondialdehyde levels while decreasing the body and testes weights, serum testosterone, and antioxidant enzyme levels due to oxidative stress. Disorganisation of seminiferous tubules and arrest of spermatogenesis were observed in the HS group. The administration of methanol extract of M. roxburghianus (400 mg/kg) for 14 d after heat treatment significantly suppressed the lipid peroxidation, restored the antioxidant enzyme and testosterone levels, revived the spermatogenesis, and increased the cell proliferation activity in the HSM group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methanol extract of M. roxburghianus accelerates testicular recovery from the damaging influence of hyperthermia.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Zoology , Mizoram University , Aizawl , Mizoram , India.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar Roy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Zoology , Mizoram University , Aizawl , Mizoram , India.
authors.forename: Tenang R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Marak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Zoology , Mizoram University , Aizawl , Mizoram , India.
authors.forename: Guruswami
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gurusubramanian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D036461:Mallotus Plant; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012611:Scrotum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; PCNA; Western blot; heat stress; lipid peroxidation; testicular histopathology