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Potential of ascorbic acid as antioxidant on chemotherapeutic agent induced change in morphology of testes
Aisha Abdul Haq1, Soofia Nigar1, Dureshewar Rehman2
1Anatomy Department, Dow Medical College, DUHS, Karachi, Pakistan.
Objective:
To demonstrate the morphological changes in number of seminiferous tubules that are produced by anthracycline doxorubicin on the testes of mice.
Methods:
This experimental study was conducted at Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from March to August 2012, and comprised male mice aged up to five weeks. The mice were separated into 3 equal groups: A, B and C. Each animal was treated with normal saline 1ml intraperitoneal in group A, doxorubicin alone in group B and doxorubicin + vitamin C in group C. At the end of the study, animals were sacrificed and the testes were kept in Bouin's fluid and tissue processing and staining were done. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis.
Results:
Of the 30 mice, there were 10(33.3%) in each group. The overall mean age was 5±1 weeks. The mean number of tubules was 20.28±3.29 in group A, 9.39±3.01 in group B and 18.56±2.82 in group C. The mean diameter of seminiferous tubules of testes was 218.26 ± 7.45µm in group A, 123.96±11.84 in group B and 180.86±12.13 in group C (p<0.001). Co-administration of vitamin C with doxorubicin significantly reduced (p<0.001) the seminiferous epithelial damage compared to doxorubicin group.
Conclusions:
The antioxidant vitamin C had a significant role in ameliorating the damage of testes induced by doxorubicin.
Insights
Doxorubicin significantly reduced seminiferous tubule number and diameter in mice testes. Antioxidant vitamin C mitigated this damage, protecting testicular morphology.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Reproductive Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Anthracycline chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin, is crucial for cancer treatment.
- Doxorubicin can induce significant side effects, including testicular toxicity.
- Understanding doxorubicin's impact on male reproductive organs is vital for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological changes in the number and diameter of seminiferous tubules in mouse testes following doxorubicin administration.
- To evaluate the protective effect of vitamin C against doxorubicin-induced testicular damage.
Main Methods:
- Male mice (5 weeks old) were divided into three groups: saline control, doxorubicin, and doxorubicin + vitamin C.
- Testes were collected after sacrifice, processed, and stained for histological examination.
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16.
Main Results:
- Doxorubicin treatment significantly decreased the mean number and diameter of seminiferous tubules compared to the control group.
- Mice treated with doxorubicin and vitamin C showed a significantly reduced damage to seminiferous tubules compared to the doxorubicin-only group.
- The mean number of tubules in the doxorubicin group was 9.39±3.01, compared to 20.28±3.29 in controls and 18.56±2.82 in the vitamin C group.
Conclusions:
- Doxorubicin induces significant morphological damage to mouse testes, affecting seminiferous tubule parameters.
- The antioxidant vitamin C demonstrates a significant protective role in ameliorating doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity.
- Vitamin C co-administration is a promising strategy to mitigate chemotherapy-related reproductive side effects.
