Protective role of Nigella sativa oil against reproductive toxicity, hormonal alterations, and oxidative damage induced by chlorpyrifos in male rats

Abstract

This study is aimed at elucidating the possible protective effects of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) in alleviating the toxicity of chlorpyrifos (CPF) on reproductive performance in male rats. Animals were orally administered with NSO (1 ml/kg/day), CPF (20 mg/kg/day), and NSO + CPF every day for 4 weeks. Results showed that CPF decreased spermatid number, sperm count, daily sperm production, and sperm motility while increased dead sperm and abnormal sperm compared with the control. Also the levels of testosterone, thyroxine levels, steroidogenic enzyme 17-ketosteroid reductase, body weight, food intake, and relative weight of reproductive organs were decreased. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were increased, while glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes were decreased in plasma and testes of rats treated with CPF. Histopathological examination of testes showed a decrease in the number of seminiferous tubules, form shrinkage, enlargement of the connective tissue and gametogenic changes in germ cells of rats treated with CPF. NSO alone increased testosterone, semen characteristics, GSH, and antioxidant enzymes and decreased the levels of free radicals. Furthermore, the presence of NSO with CPF alleviates its toxic effects. Our results indicated that NSO can improve semen picture and moderate CPF-induced reproductive toxicity.