Abstract
Background: cyclophosphamide one of toxicants that induce testicular damage. Silymarin has antoxidant and antiapoptotic properties .
Aim: assess the effect of silymarin on cyclophosphamide induced testicular damage in male albino rats.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 40 adult albino male rats that were divided into 4 groups. control group: were injected intraperitoneally with carboxy-methylcellulose daily for six weeks. Cyclophosphamide group: were injected intra-peritoneally with cyclophosphamide only once, then continuous injection of carboxy methylcellulose for the rest of six weeks. Silymarin group :were injected intra-peritoneally with silymarin once per day for six weeks. Cyclophosphamide and Silymarin :were injected intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide only once and then injected with Silymarin for six weeks. Serum testosterone, FSH, LH level, oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzymes, apoptotic marker, testicular histopathology, sperm count and testicular weights were assessed.
Results: Cyclophosphamide significantly decreased levels of measured hormones, antioxidant enzyme, testicular weight and sperm count but significantly increased the oxidative stress biomarkers. Also it induced degeneration and necrosis of seminiferous tubules. silymarin illustrated a significant increase in levels of measured hormones, antioxidant enzyme, testicular weight and sperm count but a significant decrease in the oxidative stress biomarkers. Normal testicular architecture was noticed with silymarin treatment.
Conclusion: Silymarin has antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities that enable it to improve testicular function after its damage by cyclophosphamide.