ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of thymoquinone (TQ), which has antioxidant properties in the experimental testicular I/R model in rats in terms of its anti-apoptotic, proliferative and biochemical attributes. In our study, 24 male rats were divided into three groups: control group, I/R group and I/R+TQ group. Testicular torsion was created by rotating the left testis 720° in a clockwise direction. The ischaemia period was 4 h, and an orchiectomy was performed after 4 h of detorsion. Spermatogenesis and the mean seminiferous tubule diameter were significantly decreased in the I/R groups compared to the control group. Furthermore, TQ-treated animals displayed an improved histological appearance in the I/R group. It was also observed that treatment with TQ increased the activity of PCNA, which decreased as a result of I/R, and this treatment also reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells. The I/R+TQ group showed a decrease in malondialdehyde levels and an increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in comparison with the I/R group. It could be concluded that cytoprotective effects of TQ on the I/R testicles are via reduction of apoptosis, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Benzoquinones/pharmacology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Reperfusion Injury/metabolism , Spermatogenesis/drug effects , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Testis/drug effects , Animals , Catalase/drug effects , Catalase/metabolism , Glutathione Peroxidase/drug effects , Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism , In Situ Nick-End Labeling , Male , Malondialdehyde/metabolism , Orchiectomy , Organ Size , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/drug effects , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Reperfusion Injury/pathology , Seminiferous Tubules/drug effects , Seminiferous Tubules/pathology , Spermatozoa/metabolism , Spermatozoa/pathology , Superoxide Dismutase/drug effects , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Testis/metabolism , Testis/pathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Serious health problems in humans are caused by arsenic (As) exposure, which is wide spread in the environment. Sodium arsenite (SAs), capable of inducing macromolecular damage is evaluated for its damaging effect in the blood vessels, liver and kidneys of Wistar rats. This study was undertaken to investigate the ameliorative effects of thymoquinone on SAs-induced oxidative and inflammatory damages in the serum of male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar Albino rats divided into three groups of nine rats each were administered to controls saline (10 mg/kg), SAs (10 mg/kg), and SAs plus thymoquinone (10 mg/kg/day) for two weeks orally. Biochemical tests were analyzed by a otoanalyzer; nitric oxide levels specthrophometrically, and cytokines were measured by ELISA method in the rat serum samples. RESULTS: Inflammatory cytokines and some biochemical variables were found to be increased in the SAs group compared to control group. On the other hand, thymoquinone supressed these laboratory signs, which are thought to be the characteristic signs of SAs toxicity, most probably by its ameliorative effects including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. CONCLUSIONS: From the results obtained, thymoquinone mitigates SAs-induced adverse effects in the serum of rats, which suggest that it may attenuate inflammation implicated in endotelial dysfunction.
