Quercetin modulates aging induced-testicular damage via increasing the antioxidant defense and the immunolocalization of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen in male rats

Abstract

Aging is a natural process that affects testicular functions via increasing the oxidative stress. Quercetin, a polyphenolic, that has antioxidant activity. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the possible role of quercetin in modulating aging-induced testicular damage. Samples from 30-months old rats' testis were examined before and after 200 mg of quercetin/Kg administration. Before quercetin administration, they showed an increase in the lipid peroxidation and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine while showed a decrease in the superoxide dismutase activity, testosterone level and sperm count and viability. Seminiferous tubules diameters were 84.3 ± 5.6 μm and their epithelium heights were 21.2 ± 3.4 μm. Only spermatogonia that were positively reacted with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). After quercetin administration, they showed an improvement in the previous biochemical parameters. Seminiferous tubule diameters were 105.2 ± 2.1 μm and their epithelium heights were 26 ± 2.1 μm. Remarkably, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and sertoli were positively reacted with PCNA. In conclusion, quercetin could modulate aging induced-testicular damage via increasing the antioxidant defense and the immunolocalization of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen.