Protective Role of Walnut Seeds Extract and Vitamin E against Testicular Toxicity Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Male Rats

Aim: The protective role and antioxidant effect of Walnut seeds extract (WSE) and/or vitamin E (Vit. E), and their combination against testicular damage and oxidative stress induced by anticancer drug cyclophosphamide (CP), were studied on male rats.

Study Design: Forty five rats were randomized into five equal groups, of nine rats each. Group I was assigned as a negative control and orally received saline solution. The other four groups were given CP orally (dissolved in saline solution) at a daily dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight (b. wt) for six weeks. Group II was used as a positive control and groups III, IV and V were received WSE (400 mg/kg of b. wt), Vitamin E (200 mg/kg b. wt) and their combination in daily doses for six weeks, respectively, four hours after CP administration.

Methods: Initial and final weight of rat, food intake were recorded and weight gain and feed efficiency ratio of rats were calculated and recorded. At the end of experimental, rats were anaesthetized by diethyl ether; testes and accessory sexual organs were dissected out and weighed. Semen was separated and analyzed, serum levels of testosterone, FSH and LH were determined. The right testes were used for estimating testicular antioxidant capacity. The left testes were preserved in 10% formalin solution untills processing for histopathological examination.

Results: Oral administration of WSE, vitamin E and their combination to intoxicated rats caused increases in the weights of testes, seminal vesicles, sperm motility, count and viability. Serum testosterone and levels of FSH and LH were increased. There were significant increases in the activities of testicular antioxidant enzymes, and alleviation of testicular degeneration and necrosis induced by CP. These effects were amplified by combination of WSE with vitamin E.

Conclusion: Combination of Walnut seeds extract with vitamin E exhibited antioxidant activity and protective effect against reproductive toxicity induced by CP in male rats. Therefore, intake of Walnut seeds in food with vitamin E as food supplement may be beneficial for male patients suffering from infertility problems.