The Protective Role of Septilin Against Gamma Radiation-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

Backgrounds: This study deals with evaluation of the histological and some histochemical alterations in rat testes induced by whole body gamma irradiation as well as evaluation of the protective effect of septilin (a herbal preparation) against these effects. Results : The obtained results indicated that doses of (3 Gy and 6 Gy) gamma radiation have testicular toxic effects in rats. The histological lesions observed in the testes varied between vacuolation, swelling, pyknosis and even necrosis in some spermatogenic cells as well as significant depletion in the number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes and spermatids. The histochemical observations revealed diminution in the polysaccharides content and increase in the collagen fibres in the testis of irradiated animals. These effects were mostly perceptive with the high dose of the radiation than with the lower one. Treatment with septilin (a herbal preparation) for one week followed by gamma radiation proved that septilin has a protective effect against gamma radiation-induced toxic effects in the testes of rats; where most of the histological and histochemical changes observed due to irradiation were minimized to a large extent; however there was no complete protection. Conclusion: Thus, this study concluded that gamma-irradiation exerts toxic effects in the testes of rats and pre-treatment with septilin inhibits these toxic effects, which in turn advocate using such herbal extract as a radioprotector.