Objective: In this study, we investigated the preventing effects of Curcumin (Cur) against titanium dioxide nanoparticle (NTiO2)-induced mouse testicular damage.
Methods: We assessed NTiO2-intoxicated mice received 50mg/kg of NTiO2 for 35 days. The Cur + NTiO2 group was pretreated with Cur (200 mg/kg) for 7 days prior to administering NTiO2. Sperm parameters, testosterone concentration, histological criteria, morphometric parameters and Johnsen's scoring.
Results: NTiO2 significantly reduced testicular weight, testosterone concentration, morphometric parameters, Johnsen's scoring and sperm quality (p<0.01), as well as a significant increase in histological criteria. Pretreatment with Cur reduced testicular weight, ameliorated morphometric parameters, increased Johnsen's scoring, elevated testosterone levels, and increased histological criteria such as vacuolization, detachment, and sloughing of germ cells into the seminiferous tubules. Cur also improved sperm parameters including sperm count, motility, and percentage of abnormality.
Conclusion: Cur was found to have a potent protective effect against spermatogenesis defects induced by nanoparticles in mice.
Keywords: curcumin; mice; nanoparticle; sperm quality; spermatogenesis; testosterone.