Protective potential of royal jelly against cadmium ‐induced infertility in male rats

This study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Royal jelly (RJ) against cadmium (Cd)‐induced testicular dysfunction in rats. Thirty‐five adult male Wistar rats were assigned into five groups. G I; (control) injected intraperitoneally with saline, G II injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of CdCl2 (1 mg/kg BW), G III received RJ (100 mg/kg BW/day) orally, G IV was pre‐treated with RJ for 1 week then, treated with CdCl2, and G V was co‐treated with RJ and CdCl2. After day 56, serum and tissue samples were collected and analysed. The results showed decreased serum testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, sperm motility and count while increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and sperm abnormalities, along with a severely damaged seminiferous tubules epithelium with cytoplasmic and nuclear disruptions following Cd toxicity. Additionally, Cd stimulated testicular mRNA expression of TNF‐α while inhibited those of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme androgen binding protein, FSH‐receptor, LH‐receptor, androgen receptor, 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β‐HSD, and cytochrome P450 17A1. These negative alterations of cadmium were greatly reduced by RJ treatment. This study concluded that RJ protects against Cd‐induced testicular toxicity.
Source: Andrologia - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research