Evaluation of the Ameliorative Role of Naringin Against Di-N-Butylphthalate-Induced Testicular Injury in Male Rats

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the ameliorative effect of naringin (NG) against di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP)-induced testicular injury in rats. Six equal groups were treated orally, 3 times a week for six successive weeks: the control vehicle group received olive oil; the NG group received NG (80 mg/kg); the DBP 250 and DBP 500 groups received DBP 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively; and the NG+DBP 250 and NG+DBP 500 groups received NG (80mg/kg), an hour before DBP administration at 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as well as the testicular pathological changes, were investigated after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of exposure. Administration of DBP at a dose level of 250 mg/kg caused insignificant differences in serum MDA level or TAC over the experimental period, whereas rats given DBP at a dose level of 500 mg/kg showed significant changes after 4 and 6 weeks of exposure. Meanwhile, various degrees of testicular degenerative changes were observed at both levels of DBP following 2, 4, and 6 weeks of exposure, where degeneration of different spermatogenic cells, decrease in the number or even complete absence of spermatozoa in the lumen of seminiferous tubules were the main observed alterations. The co-administration of NG to DBP-intoxicated rats improved, in a time-dependent manner, the serum oxidant/antioxidant status and the testicular morphology. Overall, these findings proved that oral administration of DBP induced changes in the serum oxidant/antioxidant status and testicular histoarchitecture in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as well as the protective and ameliorative role of NG.