Gallic acid ameliorates busulfan-induced testicular toxicity and damage in mature rats

Here, we studied the protective effect of gallic acid (GAL) as a potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent against damage caused by busulfan (BUS) in the testes of adult rats. The adult Wistar rats were assigned as control, BUS: was intraperitoneally (i.p.) treated with busulfan (15 mg/kg, day 7 and 14), GAL + BUS: was co-treated with busulfan (i.p., 15 mg/kg, day 7 and 14) and orally treated (per os) with gallic acid (60 days, 20 mg/kg) and GAL: was treated with gallic acid (per os, 60 days, 20 mg/kg). The results showed that GAL co-treatment increased the numbers of spermatogonia (Type A and B), spermatocytes (primary and secondary) and round spermatids, along with the tubular diameter, epithelial height and gonado-somatic index. In addition, BUS-induced increase in 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activities were inhibited on GAL co-treatment. Similarly, BUS-induced decrease in gluthathione concentration, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities along with increase in myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde concentration were significantly normalized to control values on GAL co-treatment. Busulfan-induced elimination of tubular germ cells was completely prevented by GAL. Overall, GAL may inhibit BUS-mediated spermatogenesis arrest via decreasing inflammatory-mediated oxidative stress in a rat experimental model.