Sammendrag
Male infertility is a growing problem worldwide. There are many risk factors, including cancers and cancer-causing agents. The 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH) is a cancer-causing agent that harms the reproductive system. This study examines the impact of β-caryophyllene (BCP), a molecule possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics in counteracting DMH-induced sperm quality alteration and testicular oxidative injury in a rat model. Thirty (30) Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into six (6) equal groups. They were administered distilled water, 20 mg/kg DMH, 5 mg/kg BCP, 10 mg/kg BCP, 5 mg/kg BCP + DMH, and 10 mg/kg BCP + DMH. The BCP was administered orally, while DMH was injected intraperitoneally throughout the 20 weeks of treatment. After treatment, sperm motility, viability, count, and total aberration were evaluated in test and control rats. The absolute and relative testis weights as well as testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined. Histopathological evaluation of the testis was also carried out. Administration of DMH led to alteration of sperm quality parameters and oxidative stress as evidenced by elevation of MDA coupled with decline SOD activity and GSH level. Testicular germ cell depletion and atrophy was also seen in the DMH group. However, BCP restored the sperm quality parameters as well as MDA, SOD and GSH towards control values. Additionally, the testicular lesions were prevented by BCP. The data suggests that BCP mitigated DMH-induced sperm quality alteration and protected against testicular damage by suppressing oxidative stress.