Context: Curcumin is a yellow-orange polyphenol derived from the Turmeric (Curcuma longa L. rhizomes). Turmeric is a main ingredient of Indian,Persian and Thai dishes. Extensive studies within the last half a century have demonstrated the protective action of curcumin in almost all the disorders of the body. Objective: This study evaluated the protective effect of curcumin on Dexamethasone-induced spermatogenesis defects in mice. Materials and methods: Thirty two NMRI mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. First (control) received 1 ml/day distilled water by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection for 7 days. Second group received 200 mg/kg/day Curcumin for 10 days. Third group received 7 mg/kg/day Dexamethasone for 7 days. Forth group received 200 mg/kg Cur for 10 days after Dex treatment.Testicular histopathology, morphometric analysis, head sperm counting, and immunohistochemistry assessments were performed for evaluation of the Dexamethasone and Curcumin effects. Results: There was marked immuno-staining for Bcl-2 in Curcumin+Dexamethasone group compared with the Dexamethasone treated animals (p<0.05). Dexamethasone induced spermatogenesis defects including epithelial vacuolization, sloughing of germ cells, reduction of seminiferous tubule diameter, reduction in the number of sperms head and significant maturation arrest (p<0.001). Curcumin+Dexamethasone treatment significantly prevented these changes (p< 0.05). Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that Curcumin increases the expression of Bcl-2 protein, an important anti-apoptotic factor, and improves the spermatogenesis defects in dexamethasone treated mice. Curcumin has a potent protective effect against the testicular toxicity and might be clinically useful
کلید واژگان :Curcumin, Dexamethasone, Apoptosis, Spermatogenic cell
ارزش ریالی : 600000 ریال
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