Introduction: With widespread applications of nanoparticles including titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) in different fields, many adverse effects may threat both environmental and medical health. Aim of this work: To examine ameliorative effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and curcumin against TiO2NPs induced testis toxicity in adult albino rats. Material and methods: Sixty four adult male albino rats were classified into eight groups. Group 1: control received regular diet and water. Group 2: solvent control, 4 rats administered oral dose of corn oil and 4 rats received oral dose of normal saline. Group 3: gavaged orally with NAC (100 mg/kg). Group 4: orally gavaged with curcumin (200 mg/kg) once a day. Group 5: gavaged orally with TiO2NPs (100mg/kg) once a day.Group 6: orally gavaged once daily with TiO2NPs (100 mg/kg) and NAC (100 mg/kg). Group 7: orally received TiO2NPs (100mg/kg) and curcumin (200mg/kg) once a day. Group 8: gavaged orally TiO2NPs (100mg/kg) followed by NAC (100mg/kg) and curcumin (200mg/kg). Results: TiO2 NPs caused a considerable reduction in ultimate body weight, weight gain, and testis weight, according to the findings. Reduced levels of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in testicular tissues, as well as elevated levels of the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA), suggested that TiO2NPs increased oxidative stress. TiO2NPs significantly lowered sex hormone levels (FSH, LH and testosterone), sperm motility, viability, sperm cell count and concentration, and sperm abnormalities, as well as causing damage to the testicular histological architecture in testicular tissues, TiO2NPs resulted in the downregulation of 17-HSD and the activation of proapoptotic gene (Bax) transcripts. NAC and/or curcumin, on the other hand, exhibited a protective impact on testicular tissue. Conclusion: TiO2NPs exposure causes induced oxidative damage and morphological injury in the testis and we recommend that NAC and curcumin could be used to mitigate the toxicity and oxidative damage related to TiO2NPs intake. |
