Ginger and Atorvastatin Protect Against Diazinon-Induced Testicular Damage in Rats Through Regulation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis

Elshafae, Rania; Elkomy, Ashraf; Farag, Enas; Aboubakr, Mohamed; Elbatawy, Rania; Elshafae, Said

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2024.330029.2444

Ginger and Atorvastatin Protect Against Diazinon-Induced Testicular Damage in Rats Through Regulation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Benha University Hospital, Benha, Egypt

² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt

³ Animal Health Research Institute for Regional Laboratories, Giza, Egypt

⁴ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt.

⁵ Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh, Egypt

10.21608/ejvs.2024.330029.2444

Abstract

DIAZINON (DZ), an organophosphorus pesticide that is commonly used in agriculture, has been associated with testicular toxicity. This study explored the protective effects of ginger extract (GE) and atorvastatin (ATR) on DZ-induced testicular damage in rats. 49 male rats were divided into 4 main groups initially. In the first 3 groups (n=7/each), rats received either saline (control group) or GE or ATR daily while the rats in the fourth group (n=28) were orally gavaged with diazinon (DZ) (Intoxicated groups). The rats in the fourth group were further subdivided into 4 equal groups (n=7/each) where saline or GE or ATR or both GE and ATR were administered for 30 days. The rats were sacrificed after 30 days of treatment, and serum samples and tissues were collected for analysis. In DZ intoxicated rats, there was a significant decrease in testosterone, FSH, and LH levels. In addition, testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was increased, while glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels were decreased. DZ also induced degeneration and necrosis in seminiferous tubules with marked increase in caspase-3 expression in cytoplasm. However, the administration of both GE and ATR in intoxicated rats alleviated DZ induced oxidative changes and reduced testicular degeneration more effectively than using either one alone. GE and ATR provided a synergistic protective effect against testicular damage induced by DZ in rats, suggesting their potential as a therapeutic strategy for combating organophosphorus poisoning. This protective effect could be attributed to the reduction of lipid peroxidation and the mitigation of damage caused by oxidative stress.

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