Testiculo-protective effects of nanocurcumin in oxymetholone-treated mice

Background: Anabolic-androgenic steroids such as oxymetholone (OXM) have negative impacts on male endocrinological system and reproductive performances. The aim of present study was to examine the possible protective effects of nanocurcumin (NAC) administration against OXM-induced spermatogenesis impairment in mice.Methods: Twenty adult male mice were randomly allocated into 4 equal groups including control, OXM (5 mg/kg; PO), NAC (15 mg/kg; PO) and OXM+NAC. Histopathological analyses were determined to monitor the spermatogenesis in the testicular tissue after 5 weeks.Result: Oxymetholone-treated mice showed significant reductions in spermiation, tubule differentiation, miotic and repopulation indices as well as germinal epithelium height and seminiferous tubules diameter. Moreover, significant decline in the number of Leydig cells along with drastic morphological alterations in testicular tissue were observed in OXM-received mice. Noticeably, NAC co-treatment attenuated OXM-related degenerative changes in mouse testicular tissue.Conclusion: These results indicated that NAC can reduce OXM-induced testicular damages and spermatogenesis disturbances in mice.

Keywords:

Curcumin , Histology , Mouse , Testis , Oxymetholone