Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Apilarnil on Cisplatin-Induced Gonadal Toxicity in Rats

Cisplatin (CP) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent. However, its clinical application is limited by its notable gonadotoxic and systemic side effects. Apilarnil, a biologically active product of drone larva, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and androgenic properties, which suggests its potential protective effects against chemotherapy-induced toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of different doses of apilarnil on CP-induced gonadal toxicity and systemic biochemical changes in a rat model.

A total of 64 adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to eight experimental groups, including the control, CP-treated, apilarnil-treated (50 and 100 mg/kg) and combined CP-apilarnil treatment groups. Treatments were administered via orogastric gavage or intraperitoneal injection. Testicular and epididymal weights, epididymal sperm concentration and motility, haematological and biochemical parameters and histopathological changes were evaluated.

CP administration considerably decreased testis and epididymis weights, sperm concentration and motility while altering haematological indices (mean corpuscular volume, lymphocytes and neutrophils), elevating serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, liver enzyme levels and reducing testosterone levels. Apilarnil treatment, particularly when administered prior to CP exposure, ameliorated these adverse effects by improving sperm parameters, normalising blood indices, modulating biochemical markers and enhancing histological preservation of seminiferous tubules.

Apilarnil exhibits promising protective effects against CP-induced gonadal toxicity and systemic damage. These findings support further investigation of apilarnil as an adjunctive agent to mitigate chemotherapy-associated side effects.