Dietary Nannochloropsis oculata could ameliorate cadmium chloride-induced reproductive toxicity in Barki rams: Antioxidant, MAP3K8, and inflammatory pathways

The experiment was intended to explore the protecting effects of Nannochloropsis oculate on the induced cadmium reproductive toxicity in rams. Twenty mature Barki rams were randomly allocated into four groups, each containing five rams: group I (control), group II (received 3 % dietary N. oculate), group III (received 1 mg/Kg/day cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), and group IV (received 3 % dietary N. oculate and 1 mg/Kg/day CdCl₂). Semen ejaculates and blood samples were collected. Testicular volume and reaction time were assessed with every semen collection. Ejaculates were analyzed for semen criteria. Rams were subjected to a castration process to analyze the anti-oxidative status, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and inflammatory markers in the testicular homogenate. Testicular histopathology was performed on testicular sections. Gene expression of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) was assessed. Alga-treated rams revealed significant improvement in semen criteria, testicular weight, and testosterone hormone as compared to other groups. The levels of testicular antioxidant markers and interleukin-10 elevated significantly in the alga group, while interleukin-12 increased in the CdCl₂ group. Alga+CdCl₂ rams showed significant amelioration in the previous parameters equated to the CdCl₂ group. CdCl₂ rams exhibited a significant fold upgrade in MAPK of compared with other groups. Testicular histopathology revealed marked alterations in the testicular architecture of CdCl_2, while administration of alga recovered the testicular architecture. In conclusion, administration of N. oculate ameliorated semen criteria, testicular antioxidant capacity as well as testicular histopathology that was declared by the expression of MAPK38.