Shokooh Karimi - Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Seyed Jalal Hosseinimehr - Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Hamid Reza Mohammadi - Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Ali Reza Khalatbary - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Fereshteh Talebpour Amiri - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Objective(s): Cisplatin (CP), as an anti-neoplastic drug, causes testicular damage. Zataria multiflora Boiss (ZM), a medicinal plant, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ZM against CP-induced testicular toxicity. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, thirty-two adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups. The control group received normal saline with oral gavage during ۷ days; ZM group received ZM (۲۰۰ mg/kg) during ۷ days by gavage; CP group received CP (۱۰ mg/kg) intraperitoneally (IP) in the ۵th day of study; ZM + CP group received ZM during ۷ days and CP was injected in ۵th day. Sperm parameters, biochemical (MDA, GSH, and PC) levels, serum testosterone levels, and histopathological and immunohistochemical assays of testis were examined one day after the last drug treatment. Results: CP treatment caused significant damage via changed sperm parameters (sperm motility, count, viability rate, and abnormalities), increased oxidative stress (increased MDA and PC levels, and decreased GSH level), histological changes (degeneration, necrosis, arrest of spermatogenesis, congestion, and decrease in thickness of the germinal epithelium, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and Johnsen’s Score), decreased serum testosterone level, and increased caspase-۳ immunoreactivity. ZM preserved spermatogenesis and mitigated the toxic effects of CP on the testis tissue. In addition, treatment with ZM significantly reduced caspase-۳ immunoreactivity. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that ZM as a potential antioxidant compound and due to free radicals scavenging activities has a protective effect against CP-induced testicular toxicity.

Caspase-۳, Cisplatin, Oxidative stress, Testicular toxicity, Zataria multiflora