Study The Protective Effect of Quercetin on Testis Histological Changes and Spermatogenesis Indexes in Adult Mice Following Treatment with Dexamethasone

Abstract

Introdution: Dexamethasone is used in inflammatory disease, leukemia and nausea, which increases the oxygen free radicals in the testis as a consequence. The aim of this study was to study the protective effect of Quercetin as a plant flavonoid and strong antioxidant on testis histological changes and Spermatogenesis indexes in adult mice following treatment with Dexamethasone.

Methods: 24 adult male mice (NMRI) were divided into 4 groups (n=6): control, Dexamethasone (7mg/kg/day), Quercetin (50mg/kg/day) and Dexamethasone + Quercetin. 7 days after intra peritoneal treatment, the right testis were removed, fixed, sectioned, processed and stained with Heidenhain’s Azan method, testis histological changes and spermatogenesis indexes were studied by stereological techniques. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the means were considered significantly different (P<0.05).

Results: A significant decrease was considered in the mean volume and diameter of the seminiferous tubules, germinal epithelium height, spermatogenesis indexes, the number of spermatocytes, long spermatids, round spermatid and Leydig cells, and also a significant increase in the volume of interstitial tissue were found in the Dexamethasone group compared to the control (P<0.001). The mentioned parameters in the Dexamethasone + Quercetin group were compensated to the control level (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Our results indicated that Quercetin as a strong antioxidant can reduce the destructive effects of dexamethasone on the histology of testis tissue and Spermatogenesis indexes in mice. Therefore, Quercetin is suggested as a therapeutic supplement in regimens containing Dexamethasone.