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This study investigated the effect of quercetin on changes in testes due to arsenic exposure. Twenty-seven male rats were divided into three groups: control (10 ml kg -1  day -1 saline), arsenic (10 mg kg -1  day -1 sodium arsenite) and arsenic + quercetin (arsenic + 50 mg kg -1  day -1 quercetin). The rats were sacrificed at the end of 15-day experiment. There was no difference between control group and arsenic group in body weight gain, testicular weight and serum total testosterone level. Quercetin treatment did not cause a significant difference in these parameters. In the arsenic group rats, we determined deterioration in the structure of seminiferous tubules, a decrease in the number of spermatogenic cells, an increase in the number of apoptotic cells, a decrease in the number of PCNA-positive cells, a decrease in SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities, and an increase in the MDA level in testicular tissue. In all these changes, arsenic+quercetin group showed an improved compared to arsenic group. The amount of arsenic increased in the arsenic group was compared to the control group, and there was no difference between arsenic group and arsenic + quercetin group in the amount of arsenic. In conclusion, quercetin prevented arsenic-induced testicular damage with its anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects., (© 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

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., (© 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The aim of this study was to examine the protective effects of fish omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids on acute doxorubicin (DOX)-induced testicular apoptosis and oxidative damage. 24 male rats were divided into three groups: control, DOX-treated and DOX+fish n-3 fatty acids. Fish n-3 fatty acids (400 mg kg(-1) ) were given for 30 days by intragastric gavage. The rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of DOX (30 mg kg(-1) ) and were sacrificed after 48 h. The DOX+fish n-3 fatty acids group showed a decrease in malondialdehyde levels and increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in comparison with the DOX-treated group. Acute DOX treatment caused severe damage such as disorganisation and separation of germ cells. The fish n-3 fatty acids-pretreated rats showed an improved histological appearance in the DOX-treated group. Our data indicate a reduction in the activity of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling; there was a rise in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in testis tissues of the DOX+fish n-3 fatty acids group compared with DOX-treated group. These data suggested that fish n-3 fatty acids pre-treatment may be beneficial for spermatogenesis following acute DOX-induced testicular damage by decreasing germ cell apoptosis and oxidative stress., (© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids on the changes in testis induced by ethanol. Forty-five rats divided into five groups, control, ethanol, ethanol+quercetin, ethanol+fish n-3 fatty acids and ethanol+quercetin+fish n-3 fatty acids. At the end of 8 weeks, all the rats were sacrificed. Degenerative changes in histopathological analyses, the decreased body weight gain and seminiferous tubule diameters in ethanol group have been observed. TUNEL assay also showed an increase in apoptotic cell number. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), xanthine oxidase (XO) and testosterone levels were decreased as well as the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were increased in ethanol group. Histopathological changes caused by ethanol have been improved by quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids. It was also found that protection was provided by increasing SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities in groups administered quercetin, fish n-3 fatty acids and quercetin+fish n-3 fatty acids, and by decreasing the levels of MDA and NO in groups administered both quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids together. These results suggest that quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids are beneficial agents to reduce testicular injury induced by ethanol except for testosterone levels., (© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)