Resveratrol and curcumin ameliorate di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induced testicular injury in rats

• Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) caused an oxidative testicular damage in rats.
• Resveratrol or curcumin attenuated the DEHP-induced pathological alterations.
• The effects of these compounds may be due to their intrinsic antioxidant properties.
• These compounds boosted Nrf2/HO-1, HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 gene expression levels.

The present study aimed to evaluate the protective role of resveratrol and curcumin on oxidative testicular damage induced by di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups; three groups received oral daily doses of DEHP (2 g/kg BW) for 45 days to induce testicular injury. Two of these groups received either resveratrol (80 mg/kg BW) or curcumin (200 mg/kg BW) orally for 30 days before and 45 days after DEHP administration. A vehicle-treated control group was also included. Another two groups of rats received either resveratrol or curcumin alone. Oxidative damage was observed by decreased levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione (GSH) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the testes of DEHP-administered rats. Serum testosterone level as well as testicular marker enzymes activities; acid and alkaline phosphatases (ACP and ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed severe declines. DEHP administration caused significant increases in the testicular gene expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 as well as a significant decrease in c-Kit protein when compared with the control group. Histopathological observations provided evidence for the biochemical and molecular analysis. These DEHP-induced pathological alterations were attenuated by pretreatment with resveratrol and curcumin. We conclude that DEHP-induced injuries in biochemical, molecular and histological structure of testis were recovered by pretreatment with resveratrol and curcumin. The chemoprotective effects of these compounds may be due to their intrinsic antioxidant properties along with boosting Nrf2, HSP 60, HSP 70 and HSP 90 gene expression levels and as such may be useful potential tools in combating DEHP-induced testicular dysfunction.

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