Abstract:
In this study, the toxic effect of cyclophosphamide (CP) on sperm morphology, testicular histology and blood oxidant–
antioxidant balance, and protective roles of lycopene (LC) and ellagic acid (EA) were investigated. For this purpose, 48
healthy, adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups; eight animals in each group. The control group was
treated with placebo. LC, EA and CP groups were given alone LC (10 mg ⁄ kg ⁄ every other day), EA (2 mg ⁄ kg ⁄ every other
day) and CP (15 mg⁄ kg ⁄week) respectively. One of the last two groups received CP + LC, and the other treated with
CP + EA. All treatments were maintained for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, morphological abnormalities of
sperm, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione (GSH) levels, and GSH-peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT)
and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in erythrocytes, and testicular histopathological changes were examined. CP administration
caused statistically significant increases in tail and total abnormality of sperm, plasma MDA level and erythrocyte
SOD activity, and decreases in erythtocyte CAT activity, diameters of seminiferous tubules, germinal cell layer thickness and
Johnsen’s Testicular Score along with degeneration, necrosis, immature germ cells, congestion and atrophy in testicular tissue.
However, LC or EA treatments to CP-treated rats markedly improved the CP-induced lipid peroxidation, and normalized
sperm morphology and testicular histopathology. In conclusion, CP-induced lipid peroxidation leads to the structural damages
in spermatozoa and testicular tissue of rats, and also LC or EA have a protective effect on these types of damage.
