Thymoquinone improves testicular damage and sperm quality in experimentally varicocele‐induced adolescent rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of thymoquinone against the negative effects of varicocele on testicular tissue and sperm morphology. Five groups were formed by random selection from a total of 40 adult male Wistar rats (n = 8). Thymoquinone (5 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally to the varicocele‐dimethyl sulfoxide‐olive oil‐thymoquinone (VT) group and the sham‐thymoquinone group. At the end of the 60th day, all groups were anaesthetised and the left testis was removed from the body quickly. One half of the testis tissue, which was divided into two, was separated for biochemical and Western blot analysis, while the other half were fixed in Bouin's fixative. As a result of biochemical, molecular and histopathological analyses, a statistically significant increase was found in the varicocele group testicular tissues in the malondialdehyde level, apoptotic index, Bax expression, cytochrome c expression and Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio compared with the sham group. In addition, histopathological changes characterised by partial or complete degeneration of the germinal epithelium were observed in the seminiferous tubules in the same group. Total oxidant status level and sperm count with abnormal morphology increased in varicocele group, whereas total antioxidant status level decreased. In the VT group, all of the biochemical, molecular and histopathological changes detected in the varicocele group were statistically significantly reduced. When the findings obtained in this study are evaluated, it can be said that thymoquinone has the potential to be used as a preventive and therapeutic pharmacological agent in the medical treatment of varicocele. Although the exact mechanism of action of thymoquinone has not been fully elucidated, the findings obtained in this study support the view that thymoquinone showed a cytoprotective effect by reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation.

Pharmacological intervention of biosynthesized Nigella sativa silver nanoparticles against hexavalent chromium induced toxicity in male albino mice

“…Nigella sativa active component thymoquinone (TQ) with good antioxidant properties improves the quality of spermatozoa, decreases defected sperms ( Gur et al, 2021 ) by improving sperm producing mother cells ( Wani et al, 2022 ), sperm motility by maintaining energy pathways in aerobic respiration result in improved fertility ( Inanc et al, 2022 ). Chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles exerted a negative effect on spermatogenesis whereas green synthesis by Nigella sativa exerted positive effects on spermatogenesis.…”

Distribution of extracellular matrix related proteins in normal and cryptorchid ziwuling black goat testes

“…As previously mentioned, peritubular myoid cells not only maintain the structural integrity of seminiferous tubules, but also participate in spermatogenesis and regulation of testicular function. Studies have reported that the reticular fibers around the seminiferous tubules in rats can provide support the structure of reproductive epithelium, and experimental varicocele induces hypoxia is frequently accompanied by some degree of testicular fibrosis ( Gur et al, 2021 ). The collagen protein, elastin, proteoglycan and glycoprotein are synthesized by fibroblasts cells and form fibers matrix ( Jia et al, 2018 ).…”

Male reproductive system and simulated high-altitude environment: preliminary results in rats

“…The apoptotic index (AI) was defined as the average number of TUNEL-positive cells per seminiferous tubule cross-section as previously described. 26 …”