Possible therapeutic effects of Quercetin against Bisphenol- A induced testicular damage in Male Sprague Dawly Rats: A histological study

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is well known environmental toxicant and endocrine disruptor that can mimic endogenous estrogenic activity. BPA is monomer and used in manufacturing of food packing material and plastic products. It may be leached from walls of food cans into circulating blood and can cause cytotoxic effect. The present study was designed to investigate possible protective effect of quercetin against BPA induced reproductive toxicity. Twenty adult male Sprague Dawley rats (75-90 days old, 190-250g) were divided into four groups. First group served as control and was provided with normal saline. Second group of rats was treated with 50 mg/kg of BPA dissolved in normal saline. Third group was provided with oral gavage of 50 mg/kg quercetin while fourth group was treated with quercetin (50 mg/kg) along with BPA (50 mg/kg). All the treatments were carried out for 52 days. Rats were dissected and their testicular tissues and epididymis were used for histology while blood plasma was used for hormonal and biochemical analysis. Results of present investigation revealed adverse morphological and histopathological changes in rat testis and epididymis after BPA administration. These degenerative changes include significant decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial height and increased luminal diameter. In addition, number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes and spermatids were significantly reduced (p<0.001) due to impaired spermatogenesis. Furthermore, BPA treatment significantly reduced (p<0.05) plasma testosterone level (ng/ml) while elevated estrogen level (ng/ml). Similarly, this also caused significant increase (p<0.001) in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, serum creatinine levels as well as in lipid profile. Interestingly, these harmful effects of BPA were ameliorated by quercetin administration. Quercetin treatment resulted in restoration of spermatogenesis, reversal of histological damages and marked increase in plasma testosterone concentration along with decrease in estrogen concentration. Similarly, BUN and creatinin levels were reversed when cotreated with quercetin. Lipid profile was also normalized when treated with quercetin. In conclusion, present findings suggest that BPA administration induce toxic effects on testis and epididymis, decrease in germ cell numbers, imbalance plasma hormonal levels and lipid profile while quercetin amended those toxic effects by restoring normal spermatogenesis, testicular tissue damage and hormonal level. Hence, it was suggested that quercetin can be used as potential therapeutic drug against BPA induced testicular toxicity.