The antioxidant/anti‐inflammatory protective effects of rutin against ethanol‐induced testicular perturbation in rats: Involvement of the immunosuppressive indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase

Abstract

AbstractThis study investigated the influence of rutin against EtOH‐induced testicular impairment in rats and the involvement of the indole‐aminergic pathway. Four groups of eight rats each were orally exposed to drinking water (Group 1), EtOH (5 g/kg bwt, Group 2), R (5 g/kg bwt, Group 3), and EtOH + R (5 g/kg bwt + 50 mg/kg bwt, Group 4) via gavage for 15 days. Results showed that exposure to EtOH significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced the testicular antioxidant system and increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) relative to control. We observed a significant (p < 0.0001) increase in the inflammatory biomarkers, with attendant disruption in the testicular histological structure and concomitant elevation in the activities of indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO), in comparison with control and no noticeable effects in tryptophan 2,3‐dioxygenase (TDO) activity across the groups. Rutin‐only exposed group did not show any alteration in the measured parameters when compared with the control. Rutin co‐exposure augmented the antioxidant system, prevented histological damage, reduced LPO and inflammation, and thus, lowered EtOH‐mediated increase in IDO activity, compared with control. Overall, these findings reveal the involvement of the indole‐aminergic pathway in rutin's protective influence against EtOH‐induced testicular impairment in rats.