Possible protective effect of Crocin on Cisplatin-induced changes in the testis of prepubertal albino rats: Histological, Immunohistochemical, and Morphometric Study

Abdelwahab, Ola A.; Alsemeh, Amira Ebrahim; Ahmed Refaay, Nehal Elsayed

doi:10.21608/esctj.2023.190973.1026

Possible protective effect of Crocin on Cisplatin-induced changes in the testis of prepubertal albino rats: Histological, Immunohistochemical, and Morphometric Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Anatomy and embryology department, Faculty of medicine, Zagazig University

² Alzohor street,zagazig

10.21608/esctj.2023.190973.1026

Abstract

Cisplatin is a common antineoplastic drug used to treat various solid cancers. Crocin possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and memory-enhancing properties. We study the effect of CIS on prepubertal rat testes and protective effect of Crocin on CIS-induced testicular toxicity. (Control negative group); rats weren’t given any treatment. (Control positive1): 0.15 ml saline /day intraperitoneal (i.p) only for 5 days. (Control positive 2): (200mg/kg) for 4 consecutive days. (CIS treated group): a single subcutaneous injection in the back of the neck one day just before scarification at a dose of 5μg/g. (CIS + Crocin group): 200 mg/kg of Crocin for 4 consecutive days before treatment with CIS. The last dose of Crocin was given one hour before CIS. Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups based on rat age (PND11, PND17, PND30). Rats were anesthetized; their testes were extracted and subjected to histological, immunohistochemical, and morphometric examinations. CIS administration significantly decreased body weights, testicular weights, and serum testosterone levels in all age's groups. Also, it caused degeneration of testicular cells with loss of cellular organization, marked cellular atrophy, and disruption of tubular basement membranes. A significant decrease in tubular diameter and a significant increase in percentage of apoptotic cells were observed in the CIS-treated rats. Crocin administration minimally mitigated these hazardous effects of CIS in the prepubertal rat testes. These findings demonstrated that CIS has a cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on the testicular germinal epithelium and Crocin could minimally improve these alterations.

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