Protective effect of green tea extract on the deltamethrin-induced toxicity in mice testis: An experimental study

Background: Deltamethrin (DM) is one of the environmental factors that can havedestructive effects on the male fertility. Green tea (GT) as a medicinal herb, hasantioxidant property.Objective: The present study investigated the protective role of GT extract in improvingthe harmful effects of DM on the testis.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 35 adult male mice (25–30 gr) weredivided in to five groups (n = 7/each). The control group received only normal saline.Sham received 0.2 ml corn oil. Green tea group received only GT of 150 mg/kg. bw;deltamethrin group received the DM at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg. bw; GT + DM received bothGT and DM. The effect of GT was assessed by measuring oxidative stress markers,sperm parameters, histological and immunohistochemical analysis.Results: The results showed that the count and motility of spermatozoa, testosterone,and Malondialdehyde significantly decreased (p < 0.001) and the abnormal spermatozoaincreased (p < 0.001) in DM group compared to control group. Moreover, enhancedcaspase-3expression and apoptosis were observed in DM-treated mice compared tocontrol group. Histologically, DM with a degenerative effect on testicular tissue reducedthe spermatogenesis progenitor cells. The epithelial height and the diameter of theseminiferous tubules were also reduced in the DM group. Treatment with GT in theDM-treated mice significantly improved these changes.Conclusion: With these findings, it was concluded that the GT treatment withantioxidant activity and anti-apoptotic property could protect the testicular injuryinduced by DM.

Keywords:

Deltamethrin , Green tea , Oxidative stress , Testis , Caspase-3