Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the protective role of
Spirulina platensis
(
S. platensis
) against arsenic-induced testicular oxidative damage in rats. Arsenic (in the form of NaAsO
2
at a dose of 6.3 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks) caused a significant accumulation of arsenic in testicular tissues as well as a decrease in the levels of testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione, and zinc. Moreover, it significantly decreased plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), triiodothyronine (T
3
), and thyroxine (T
4
) levels and reduced sperm motility and sperm count. Arsenic (AS) led to a significant increase in testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-
α
), nitric oxide (NO), and sperm abnormalities.
S. platensis
at a dose of 300 mg/kg was found to attenuate As-induced oxidative stress, testicular damage, and sperm abnormalities by its potent antioxidant activity.
S. platensis
may represent a potential therapeutic option to protect the testicular tissue from arsenic intoxication.