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Effects of different doses of curcumin on testicular histopathology, apoptosis, and reproductive organs weight index in mice d-galactose-induced aging model

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Abstract

Due to the value of aging and its effect on body organs, it is necessary to study the factors that can have protective effects on this process. Curcumin is the active ingredient of Curcuma longa Turmeric, which has a strong antioxidant effect. We evaluated the curcumin treatment on testicular histopathology, apoptosis, and reproductive organs index in a mouse model of aging. Forty-eight mice divided into control, sham, d-galactose, and curcumin 1 to 3 groups. The d-galactose group was administered intraperitoneally 300 mg/kg d-galactose for 6 weeks. The curcumin 1 to 3 groups received d-galactose plus 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg of curcumin, respectively for 14 days. Then, testicular histopathology, apoptosis, and reproductive organs index were investigated after 6 weeks. The SPSS software was used for data analysis. Tunnel-positive cells in the d-galactose group were remarkably higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Administration of curcumin in all three doses reduced the number of positive tunnel cells, in comparison with the group that received d-galactose (p < 0.05). The epididymis weight index of the d-galactose group was significantly different from the control (p = 0.006), the sham (p = 0.01), the curcumin 1 (p = 0.003), the curcumin 2 (p = 0.003), and the curcumin 3 (p = 0.002) groups. Histological examination of the d-galactose group revealed a reduction in the thickness of the germinal epithelium, edema, and complete atrophy of germ cells in some seminiferous tubules. The histology of seminiferous tubules was near-normal appearance with the little disintegration of germ cells from their normal germinal epithelium in the curcumin 1 and 3 groups. The histology of seminiferous tubules was near-normal appearance with mild edema and congestion in some seminiferous tubules in the curcumin 2 group. Curcumin supplementation (2 weeks, 100 mg/kg) caused an improvement in biochemical markers and sperm parameters as well as a reduction in apoptosis in the testicular tissue of the aging mouse model.

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Acknowledgments

This article was derived from the MSc thesis in Anatomy Sciences (code 951445). We also thank Azam Amini and Fatemeh Tajik for her skilled assistance.

Funding

This study was funded by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (grant number 951445).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Mahdieh Yousefi Taba, Mehdi Jalali & Seyedeh Saleheh Attari

  2. Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Shabnam Mohammadi

  3. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Farimah Beheshti

Authors
  1. Mahdieh Yousefi Taba
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  2. Shabnam Mohammadi
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  3. Mehdi Jalali
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  4. Farimah Beheshti
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  5. Seyedeh Saleheh Attari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shabnam Mohammadi.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Taba, M.Y., Mohammadi, S., Jalali, M. et al. Effects of different doses of curcumin on testicular histopathology, apoptosis, and reproductive organs weight index in mice d-galactose-induced aging model. Comp Clin Pathol 28, 997–1002 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-018-2870-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-018-2870-7

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