Quercetin nanoparticle ameliorates 5-fluorouracil-induced testicular damage in mice: A biochemical and histological study

Abstract

Background5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most broadly chemotherapeutic compounds employed in treating solid tumors. Quercetin (QU) as a flavonoid has diverse positive clinical applications including antioxidative, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory. The current study aims to assess the histopathological changes and anti-oxidative effects of QU loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (QU-NPs) on the testicular injury triggered by 5-FU in mice. MethodsTwenty male albino mice were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows: the control, 5-FU, 5-FU + QU (5 mg/kg), and 5-FU + QU-NPs (5 mg/kg) for 14 days. Oxidative marker [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and antioxidant markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] were examined in serum. Testicular damage stemmed from a single dose injection of 5-FU intraperitoneally (i.p.). The control group received normal saline and the treatment groups received QU with i.p. injection for 14 days. ResultsSerum MDA level was lower in the QU and QU-NPs treated groups than in the 5-FU group. Moreover, serum CAT levels were remarkably increased in both the QU- and QU-NPs treated groups compared to the 5-FU group. In the case of SOD, the most considerable difference was found between the 5-FU group and the QU-NPs, but not the QU group. Further, both QU and QU-NPs, particularly the QU-NPs, ameliorated 5-FU-induced testicular tissue damage, as evidenced by a decrease in hyperemia, edema, and vacuolation, and an improvement in the area of seminiferous tubules, and spermatocyte and seminiferous tubule counts. ConclusionNanotechnology and fabrication of QU-NPs can ameliorate the testicular damage caused by 5-FU.