Abstract
Aging is a natural process that affects testicular functions via increasing the oxidative stress. Quercetin, a polyphenolic, that has antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the possible role of quercetin in modulating aging-induced testicular damage. Samples from 30-months old rats? testis were examined before and after 200 mg of quercetin/Kg administration. Before quercetin administration, they showed an increase in the lipid peroxidation and 8-hydroxy-2?-deoxyguanosine while showed a decrease in the superoxide dismutase activity, testosterone level and sperm count and viability. Seminiferous tubules diameters were 84.3 ? 5.6 ?m and their epithelium heights were 21.2 ? 3.4 ?m. Only spermatogonia that were positively reacted with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). After quercetin administration, they showed an improvement in the previous biochemical parameters. Seminiferous tubule diameters were 105.2 ? 2.1 ?m and their epithelium heights were 26 ? 2.1 ?m. Remarkably, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and sertoli were positively reacted with PCNA. In conclusion, quercetin could modulate aging induced-testicular damage via increasing the antioxidant defense and the immunolocalization of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen.