The protective effect of pumpkin seed oil on L-thyroxine-induced rat testicular oxidative stress

Abstract

ObjectivesThis work aimed to study the effect of exogenously administered L-thyroxine on adult rat testis and to clarify the possible protective effect of pumpkin seed oil.BackgroundL-thyroxine is a manufactured form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. It is used for the treatment of cases of thyroid hormone deficiency. Recently, infertility among men has become a major concern. Pumpkin is an annual herbaceous plant and has been safely used as a natural remedy in many countries. It has a wide range of pharmacological activities and a proposed antioxidant effect.Materials and methodsA total of 42 adult male albino rats were divided into the control group, pumpkin seed oil-treated group (4 ml/kg) orally for 10 days, L-thyroxine-treated group (0.3 mg/kg) intraperitoneal for 15 days, and both pumpkin seed oil and L-thyroxine-treated group. Specimens from the testes were processed for light microscopy. An immunohistochemical study was carried out using caspase 3.ResultsSpecimens from L-thyroxine-treated rats showed a statistically significant decrease in both tubular diameter and thickness of the epithelium of seminiferous tubules. Germinal epithelium showed cellular degeneration, vacuolated cytoplasm, and also there were apoptotic and multinucleated giant cells.The immunohistochemical study of the L-thyroxine-treated group showed intense positive caspase 3 immunostaining. In contrast, minimal changes were observed in rats treated concomitantly with both pumpkin seed oil and L-thyroxine-treated rats, with minimal change in immunoreaction compared with the control group.ConclusionExogenously administered L-thyroxine induced significant testicular damage and germ cell apoptosis, which could be ameliorated by concomitant treatment with pumpkin seed oil.