Protective effects of naringin against heat stress-induced oxidative and reproductive dysfunction in male rats

Heat stress (HS), increasingly relevant due to climate change and occupational exposure, impairs male fertility via oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, and testicular degeneration. Naringin, a citrus flavonoid with antioxidant properties, may protect against these reproductive impairments. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were assigned to six groups (n = 5): control, naringin (200 mg/kg), HS, and HS plus naringin (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg). Rats were exposed to 38-39 °C for 2 h/day for 30 days. Sperm parameters, reproductive hormones (testosterone, LH, FSH), oxidative stress markers (ROS, MDA, GSH, SOD), and testicular histopathology were assessed. HS significantly reduced sperm count and motility, increased abnormal morphology, and decreased testosterone and LH (p < 0.05), while FSH levels showed a non-significant decline. Oxidative stress markers increased (ROS, MDA) and antioxidants decreased (GSH, SOD; p < 0.001). Naringin mitigated these alterations, with the most pronounced improvements observed at the highest tested dose, although the underlying mechanisms require further investigation. Histopathology revealed severe germ cell degeneration in HS rats, whereas naringin preserved seminiferous structure and spermatogenesis. Naringin effectively counteracts HS-induced reproductive toxicity by enhancing antioxidant defenses, maintaining hormonal balance, and preserving testicular morphology, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for male reproductive disorders under environmental and occupational heat exposure.