Abstract

WHEAT GERM OIL ATTENUATES CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE-INDUCED TESTICULAR INJURY IN RATS

Ayman M. Mahmoud*, Hanan A. Soilman, Abeer M. Abd El-Hameed,
Eman S. Abdel-Reheim

ABSTRACT

The current study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of wheat germ oil (WGO) on cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced testicular damage in rats. CP-induced male Wistar rats were either pre-treated or concurrently supplemented with 200 mg/kg body weight WGO for 7 days. CP administration induced severe testicular damage evidenced by the histopathological alterations including extensive interstitial hemorrhage in-between seminiferous tubules, complete separation between different stages of spermatogenic cells, vacuoles within spermatogenic cells and disorganization of spermatogenic cells. WGO supplementation potentially alleviated the histological architecture of CP-induced rats. Lipid peroxidation, a convenient marker of oxidative stress, showed a significant elevation in testicular tissue of CP-induced rats. On the other hand, reduced glutathione content and activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly declined in testes of CP-induced rats. WGO markedly decreased testicular lipid peroxidation and ameliorated the antioxidant defenses. In conclusion, WGO has protective effect against CP-induced testicular injury in rats probably mediated through its ability to attenuate oxidative stress.

Keywords: Wheat germ, cyclophosphamide, oxidative stress, testicular injury.