The possible protective effect of captopril and nigella sativa and their combination aganist carbon tetrachloride induced testicular toxicity in rats

Abstract EN

Exposure to carbon tetrachloride may affect male reproductive function.

Objectives: This study was designed to elucidate the possible protective effect and the underlying mechanism of the single and combined administration of captopril and nigella sativa oil against CCl4- induced testicular toxicity.

Methods: Forty male adult albino rats were used and classified into five group.

Goup I (control) were received paraffin oil; group II were injected intrapertonially (I.P.) with CCl4 in a dose of 1 mL/kg on alternative days for 8 weeks; group III were given captopril in a dose of 100 mg/kg; group IV were given nigella sativa oil in a dose of 4 ml/kg; group V were given combination of captopril and nigella sativa oil.

Rats of groups (III, IV and V) were received oral (P.O.) daily doses of the drugs for 2 weeks, followed by concurrent administration of CCL4 for 8 weeks.

Testicular levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and serum level of the reproductive hormones (FSH, LH and testosterone) were measured.

Light microscopic and immunohistochemical examination of testes were done.

Results: CCL4 – induced testicular toxicity rats revealed significant increase in NO and MDA level with significant decrease in GSH and GSH-Px levels in testes.

A significant decrease in the serum level of the reproductive hormones in CCL4-induced testicular toxicity.

Histopathological examination of CCl4- injected rat group revealed degenerative and apoptotic changes in the testes with reduction in the androgen receptor expression.

The single and combined pretreatment of the CCL4 - injected rats with captopril and nigella sativa oil, showed significant decrease of the elevated NO and MDA levels, with significant increase in GSH and GSH-Px.

In addition, they improved the serum levels of the reproductive hormones.

Besides, they improved the histolopathological changes induced by CCL4 in the testes.

Conclusion: captopril and nigella sativa oil have protective effect against CCl4 - induced testicular toxicity which attributed to augmentation of the antioxidants and antiapoptotic effect.