Protective effects of crocin on acrylamide-induced testis damage

Abstract

Exposure to acrylamide (Ac) through food is almost inevitable and this kind of toxicity may cause lifelong harm. In present study, we researched effects of Crocin (Cr) on testis histopathology in Ac-induced testis of rats. Adult male rats were grouped as: group 1, 1 ml saline only; group 2, 50 mg/kg Cr only; group 3, 25 mg/kg Ac only and group 4, 25 mg/kg Ac + 50 mg/kg Cr. All administrations were given as 1 ml/day by gavage for 21 days. It was found that Ac adversely influenced the levels of FSH, testosterone and LH in the blood serum; malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI)/ glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant status (TAS) oxidant/antioxidant parameters in testis tissue (p < .01) and the histopathological parameters like Johnson's score, seminiferous tubule diameter, seminiferous epithelial height and H-score for caspase-3 immunoreactivity. In contrary, Cr treatment resulted in increase in testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizan hormone (LH) levels and SOD, CAT, GSH, TAS levels (p < .01) and improved all the histopathological changes. In conclusion, Cr has a promising protective potential against Ac-caused toxic damages in testicular tissue.

C1 [Gul, Mehmet; Kayhan Kustepe, Elif; Gul, Semir] Inonu Univ, Dept Histol & Embryol, Fac Med, Battalgazi, Turkey.

[Erdemli, Mehmet Erman; Gokturk, Nurcan] Inonu Univ, Dept Med Biochem, Fac Med, Battalgazi, Turkey.

[Altinoz, Eyup] Karabuk Univ, Dept Med Biochem, Fac Med, Kilavuzlar, Turkey.

[Gozukara Bag, Harika Gozde] Inonu Univ, Dept Biostat & Med Informat, Fac Med, Battalgazi, Turkey.