Protective Effects of Quercetin against Rotenone Induced Histopathological and Biochemical Alteration in Testes of Mice

Abstract

The present work aimed to investigate the protective role of quercetin against rotenone-induced testes damage at the level of oxidative stress and histological alteration. Reproductive toxicity was induced in mice by oral treatment of rotenone, 5 mg/kg body weight daily for 60 days, dissolve in sunflower oil as a vehicle. The quercetin was orally administered 30 mg/kg body weight daily for 60 days along with rotenone. The results of the current study showed that rotenone significantly reduced the Reduced glutathione (GSH) content and decreased the activities of Catalase (CAT) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and increased the oxidative markers such as Lipid peroxidation (LPO), and Nitric Oxide (NO) in rotenone treated group as compared to control. Co-administration of quercetin along with rotenone significantly reduced LPO and NO in the testes of mice when compared to rotenone alone group, increased the content of GSH, enhanced activities of CAT, and SOD when compared to rotenone the only group. The results of histological studies of the rotenone treated group showed a reduced number of germ cells, sperms loss, abnormality in seminiferous tubules, and degeneration of interstitial cells was found in the rotenone treated group as compared to control. While co-administration of quercetin reverses these adverse effects. The results of the current study clearly indicated that rotenone exerts harmful effects on the testes and co-administration of quercetin along with rotenone significantly protects damage caused by rotenone.