Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats

Objective: Heavy metals and environmental pollutants, such as cadmium chloride, congenital disorders, and certain diseases, can lead to infertility in men. In this study, the effects of lupeol (an active pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant properties) on testicular injuries induced by cadmium chloride were investigated in male rats.Materials and Methods: Lupeol was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, and the experiment included ۴۰ male Wistar rats divided into ۸ groups (healthy control, healthy rats treated with ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰, and ۴۰۰ mg/kg of lupeol, cadmium chloride, and three groups that received cadmium chloride and were treated with ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰, and ۴۰۰ mg/kg of lupeol). After oral treatment, rats were anesthetized, and blood and testicular tissue sampling was done. Subsequent analysis of oxidative stress enzymes, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), testosterone, sperm motility, and Aquaporin ۹ (AQ۹) levels was performed using ELISA, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. Immunohistochemistry staining was done for expression of Aquaporin ۹ in seminiferous tubules.Results: The results showed that compared to the healthy control, cadmium chloride caused a significant decrease in SOD, testosterone, sperm motility, and sperm vitality, with severe destruction of spermatogenic tubes and a significant increase in MDA and AQ۹ rate. Rats which were treated with cadmium chloride+۴۰۰ mg/kg of lupeol showed a significant increase in SOD, testosterone, histopathology, sperm motility, and sperm vitality rate, and significant organization of spermatogenic tubes in testis tissue. There was also a decrease in MDA and AQ۹ of rats that received high-dose lupeol. (P<۰.۰۰۱)Conclusion: This study suggests that lupeol has a high potential for improving male reproduction and antioxidants in rats exposed to oxidative stress.

کلیدواژه ها:

Infertility ، Lupeol ، Cadmium chloride ، Malondialdehyde ، Superoxide Dismutase