The Possible Protective Effect of Luteolin in a Thioacetamide Rat Model of Testicular Toxicity

Luteolin is a flavone that serves as a natural antioxidant. The therapeutic impacts of luteolin is influenced by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective and antineoplastic properties. This study aimed to establish an animal model of testicular toxicity caused by Thioacetamide (TAA). In addition, high doses of Luteolin (LUT) were supplemented to observe the role of LUT in attenuating spermato-toxicity, the hazard of oxidative stress, and testicular histopathological alterations induced by TAA. Thirty adult rats were equally divided into three groups as follow; G1: negative control group, G2: was given TAA 200 mg/kg body weight, G3: was received LUT at a dose of (50 mg/kg body weight) for four weeks concurrently with TAA. During this experiment histological, immunohistochemical, biochemical and morphometric measures were evaluated. TAA revealed loss of normal architecture of testicular tissue, wide interstitial spaces, and a loss of stratal arrangement of germinal epithelium with intercellular spacing. Also, a reduction in the number of +ve vimentin staining Sertoli cells with a marked reduction in the mean of vimentin-positive cells increased oxidative stress in testicular tissue. LUT protected testis against these alterations. By reducing oxidative stress, histological and immunohistochemical alterations and restoring the normal testicular tissue architecture and function, LUT successfully lowers TAA testicular toxicity in albino rats, recommending that it may have similar effects in humans. © 2022 Friends Science Publishers