As gallic acid (GA) role in zearalenone (ZEN); mediated reproductive dysfunction has not been studied, we report on GA's effect on reproductive dysfunction in rats treated with ZEN-100 µg/kg alone, or with GA-40 mg/kg; for 4 weeks. The mycotoxin ZEN contaminates crops, causing toxicity on ingestion, economic losses, and alters reproductive function. Relative to control, GA reversed ZEN-induced reduction of rats' testicular function enzymes and reproductive hormones and improved ZEN-impaired sperm quality. GA significantly (p < 0.05) increased rats antioxidant status, inhibited (p < 0.05) reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and lipid peroxidation levels, and abated (p < 0.05) proinflammatory biomarkers in the examined organs: hypothalamus, testis, and epididymis. Histopathology revealed that GA facilitated the preservation of testicular and epididymal cytoarchitecture significantly altered in rat cohorts treated with ZEN alone. Conclusively, GA protected against ZEN-induced toxicity in the rats' organs examined, enhanced endogenous antioxidative protective mechanism, and abated proinflammatory responses. GA further averted a decline in circulatory, reproductive enzymes, hormone levels. GA also protected against reproductive tissue damage and improved parameters of sperm functionality.
Keywords: functional reproductive parameters; gallic acid; inflammatory biomarkers; oxidative stress; zearalenone.
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