Seyedeh Saleheh Attari
1, Shabnam Mohammadi
2*, Alireza Ebrahimzadeh
3, Hossein Hosseinzadeh
4, Mohammad Soukhtanloo
5, Aliakbar Rajabzadeh
11 Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3 Microanatomy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4 Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
5 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract
Background: The
aging process is accompanied by low secretion of sex hormones and testicular
apoptosis. The antioxidant properties of thymoquinone (TQ) may prevent the
effects of aging. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of different
doses of TQ were investigated on sperm parameters, testosterone level,
apoptosis, and oxidative stress in a mouse model of D-galactose-induced aging.
Methods:
In this experimental study, 30 adult male mice were randomly divided into 5
groups. The control group did not receive any
injections, while the D-galactose group received an intraperitoneal injection
of 300 mg/kg of D-galactose for 42 days. The TQ1-TQ3 groups received
intraperitoneal injections of 5, 2.5, and 1.25 mg/kg of TQ plus
D-galactose, respectively for 14 days (from
the 1st to the 14th day of the experiment). The
morphometric analysis, testicular apoptosis examination, and sperm analysis
were performed, and testosterone level, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde
level were evaluated on day 42 of the experiment. Data were analyzed using SPSS.
Results: Administration of TQ in the TQ1 group caused a significant difference
in sperm parameters, compared to the D-galactose group (P<0.05). The
lowest amount of positive tunnel cells was related to 5 mg/kg of TQ and the
highest to 2.5 mg/kg of TQ. There was no significant difference in the
parameters of seminal vesicles, epididymis, prostate, and testis between the
groups (P>0.05). The malondialdehyde level were decreased in the TQ1-TQ3 groups, compared to the D-galactose
group
(P<0.001). On the other hand, the total
antioxidant capacity was increased significantly in the TQ1 group, compared to
the D-galactose group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Administration of 5 mg of TQ for 14 days improved sperm quality and
biochemical parameters, while reducing apoptotic cells of the testes in a mouse
model of aging.