Effect of lupeol on testicular lesions induced by cadmium chloride in rats

Heavy metals and environmental pollutants, such as cadmium chloride, congenital disorders, and certain diseases, can lead to infertility in men. In this study, the effects of lupeol (an active pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant properties) on testicular injuries induced by cadmium chloride were investigated in male rats.

Lupeol was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, and the experiment included 40 male Wistar rats divided into 8 groups (healthy control, healthy rats treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol, cadmium chloride, and three groups that received cadmium chloride and were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol). After oral treatment, rats were anesthetized, and blood and testicular tissue sampling was done. Subsequent analysis of oxidative stress enzymes, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), testosterone, sperm motility, and Aquaporin 9 (AQ9) levels was performed using ELISA, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. Immunohistochemistry staining was done for expression of Aquaporin 9 in seminiferous tubules.

The results showed that compared to the healthy control, cadmium chloride caused a significant decrease in SOD, testosterone, sperm motility, and sperm vitality, with severe destruction of spermatogenic tubes and a significant increase in MDA and AQ9 rate. Rats which were treated with cadmium chloride+400 mg/kg of lupeol showed a significant increase in SOD, testosterone, histopathology, sperm motility, and sperm vitality rate, and significant organization of spermatogenic tubes in testis tissue. There was also a decrease in MDA and AQ9 of rats that received high-dose lupeol. (p<0.001).

This study suggests that lupeol has a high potential for improving male reproduction and antioxidants in rats exposed to oxidative stress.