doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.421-426

Article history: Received: 30-11-2023, Accepted: 31-01-2024, Published online: 20-02-2024

Corresponding author: Khalid M. Alsyaad

E-mail: alsyaad@kku.edu.sa

Citation: Alsyaad KM (2024) Ameliorative impacts of propolis against testicular toxicity promoted by doxorubicin, Veterinary World, 17(2): 421–426.

Background and Aim: Doxorubicin (DOX) is often used as a chemotherapeutic agent, although it may damage testicular functions. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of propolis on testicular histological changes, semen parameters, and testosterone concentrations as a means of protecting against testicular damage caused by DOX chemotherapy.

Materials and Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups with 12 animals per group. The first group served as the control. Rats in the second group were administered 4 mg/kg DOX. The third group was administered 4 mg/kg of DOX and 30 mg/kg b.w. propolis. The fourth group was orally dosed daily with 30 mg/kg b.w. propolis.

Results: DOX treatment resulted in a significantly decreased weight gain (WG) rate compared with the control, whereas DOX + propolis resulted in improved WG and returned to the normal range. Testosterone levels were comparable among the experimental groups, with a significant increase in the propolis-treated group. In addition, DOX-treated groups exhibited a remarkable depletion in sperm counts, motility, and viability compared to the other groups.

Conclusion: Most of the histological and hormonal changes resulting from the toxicity of DOX returned to almost normal after treatment of rats with the aqueous extract of propolis, indicating that propolis ameliorated the effects of DOX poisoning on testicular function in male rats.

Keywords: doxorubicin, histopathology, propolis, testicular toxicity.

This document is a research article that investigates the protective effects of propolis on testicular damage caused by doxorubicin chemotherapy in male rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent that can cause testicular damage, leading to decreased weight gain, decreased testosterone levels, and depletion in sperm counts, motility, and viability.

Propolis, a resinous substance produced by bees, has antioxidant properties and has been shown to have protective effects against testicular toxicity caused by DOX chemotherapy.

In a study conducted on male rats, treatment with propolis alongside DOX resulted in improved weight gain, increased testosterone levels, and improved sperm parameters compared to the DOX-only group.

Histological examination of testicular tissue showed that DOX treatment caused necrosis, bleeding, and deformation of the seminiferous tubules, while propolis treatment improved the tissue structure and increased the number of mature spermatids.

The protective effects of propolis are attributed to its antioxidant properties, which help reduce oxidative stress and protect against the toxic effects of DOX on the testicles.