Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RES) against Aluminium chloride (ALCl(3))-induced toxicity in rat testes. Six experimental groups of adult male rats were formulated as follows: (A) controls + NS, (B) control + vehicle (saline solution of hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin), (C) RES treated, (D) CdCl2+ NS, (E) CdCl2+vehicle and (F) ALCl(3)+RES treated. At the end of the protocol, serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured in all groups, and testicular levels of TBARS Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Epididymal semen analysis was performed, and testicular expression of, p53 and Bax was assessed by RT-PCR. Also, the histopathological changes of the testes were examined microscopically. Administration of RES concomitantly with ALCl(3) in rats improved semen parameters including count, motility, daily sperm production and morphology, increased serum concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone, decreased testicular lipid peroxidation and increased SOD and GPx activities. RES not only attenuated ALCl(3)-induced testicular histopathology but was also able to protect against the onset of cadmium chloride testicular toxicity. ALCl(3) upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax. Resveratrol completely reversed ALCl(3) testicular toxicity via down regulation of p53 and Bax gene expression. The data of the current study clearly demonstrates antiapoptotic and antioxidant protective effects of RSE against ALCl(3) induced testicular damage.