Ameliorative Effects of Curcumin-Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Conjugate on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Infertility in Male Rats

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of Curcumin-ZnO NPs conjugate on testicular tissue damage induced by the anticancer cyclophosphamide. Seventy adult male albino rats weighing 150±15g were used in this study; 10 of them served as a control and 60 rats were intraperitoneal injected with cyclophosphamide at a dose of 30 mg/kg BW every other alternative day for 14 days. They were subdivided into CP group, CP + Curcumin NPs (15 mg/kg B.W), CP + ZnO NPs (10 mg/kg B.W), CP + Curcumin-ZnO NPs conjugate (10 mg/kg B.W), CP + Curcumin-ZnO NPs conjugate (15 mg/kg BW) and CP + Curcumin-ZnO NPs conjugate (20 mg/kg B.W) group. All treatments were given for 30 days. The results reported that curcumin-ZnO NPs conjugate treatment at doses of 15 and 20 mg/kg BW exhibited significant increase in sperm motility percent, sperm count, testicular antioxidant enzymes activities and serum testosterone and FSH levels and significant decrease in sperm abnormalities percent compared to cyclophosphamide treated rats. It was concluded that curcumin-ZnO NPs conjugate at doses of 15 and 20 mg/kg B.W ameliorate the testicular tissue damage induced by the anticancer cyclophosphamide.