Fluted pumpkin seeds protect the spermatogenesis score index and testicular histology of caffeine treated rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of fluted pumpkin seeds (FPS) against caffeine (CAFF) induced testicular toxicity in rats. Thirty young healthy male Wistar rats (196 ± 12 g) were randomly organized into five sets of six animals per each group: control, caffeine (CAFF; 50 mg kg À1 bw) and FPS co-treatment groups (CAFF + 50 mg FPS, CAFF + 100 mg FPS and CAFF + 200 mg FPS kg À1 bw). CAFF and FPS were administered daily and twice per week respectively by oral gavage for 40 days. CAFF treatment decreased testicular lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity level, which was attenuated on co-administration with FPS at 50 and 100 mg kg À1 bw. Furthermore, CAFF decreased seminiferous epithelia thickness and spermatogenesis score index and increased the number of tubules with abnormal histological features, which were attenuated on co-administration with FPS at 50 mg kg À1 bw much more than at the higher doses (p < 0.05). CAFF did not affect malondialdehyde and glutathione concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the testes whereas FPS co-treatment at the higher doses elevated glutathione level and GSH-Px activity and did not affect spermatogenesis score index at the highest dose (200 mg kg À1 bw). Testicular malondialdehyde concentrations remained unaffected in all FPS co-treatment groups. Overall, FPS is able to minimize the CAFF-induced testicular injury at lower than at the higher tested doses.caffeine, fluted pumpkin seeds, histology, spermatogenesis, testis | INTRODUCTIONCaffeine (CAFF: 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a naturally occurring purine-like alkaloid that is present in coffee, tea, cocoa bean and kola nuts. It is one of the most highly consumed psycho-stimulant in food supplements, beverages, energy drinks and some synthetic drugs (Akomolafe et al., 2019;Temple et al., 2017). It stimulates the central nervous system, which results in mental alertness and reduced drowsiness, loosening of smooth muscles and induction of heart rate. At higher doses, CAFF causes insomnia, tremors, increases nervousness and testicular injury in rats (

Effect of Ethanol Extract of Avocado Pulp (Persia americana mill) on Sperm Qualityand Histological Changes in Caffeine Induced Testicular Injury in Wistarrats

“…The results obtained from histopathological examination showed that caffeine significantly affects the histology of the testes which was evidenced in the alteration of the normal architecture and integrity of the testes of the caffeine induced rats thereby resulting in the necrosis of spermatogenic cells (sertoli cells and the leydig cells). This is in agreement with the findings of Ezim and Abarikwu [18], they reported that CAFF decreased seminiferous epithelia thicknessand spermatogenesis score index and increased the number of tubules withabnormal histological features,This is in agreement with the findings of Bassey et al [14] and Ekaluo et al [15] The sertoli cells plays important roles in the overall development of the testes while the leydig cells are responsible for testosterone production and spermatogenesis. [19].…”

Ascorbic acid attenuates gasoline-induced testicular toxicity, sperm quality deterioration, and testosterone imbalance in rats

“…To normalize the tubular sections of testes to be measured, 50 round or nearly round seminiferous tubules per animal at × 100 magnifications were randomly selected and analyzed for each animal regardless of the stage of the seminiferous epithelium cycle as previously described (Abarikwu et al, 2019; Sasso-Cerri et al, 2017). In each tubular section, the number of seminiferous tubules with deranged epithelium and/or having sloughed germ cells in the lumen was quantified with Image J software (National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MA, USA), and the number of these atypical seminiferous tubules was recorded (Ezim and Abarikwu, 2022).…”

Influence of triazines and lipopolysaccharide coexposure on inflammatory response and histopathological changes in the testis and liver of BalB/c mice

“…To quantify the histological features of the testes, 10 randomly chosen circular seminiferous tubules were selected, totalling 50 tubules per animal. In each tubular section, the number of tubules with desquamated germ cells in the lumen, degenerated epithelium, and clump of giant cells in the epithelium and inflammatory cells in the intertubular spaces were quantified and the numbers of these atypical seminiferous tubules and inflammatory cells were recorded and the mean calculated [ 37 ]. To assess the incidence of histopathologies in the liver, 50 digital images from 10 animals were analysed at × 400 magnification.…”