Effect of Hone
Effect
of Honey on Testicular Functions in Rats Exposed to Octylphenol
Abu-Zinadah, O. A1;
Alsaggaf, S.O2 and Shaikh Omar, A.M1
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science; King
Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King
Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Abstract: Honey
is traditionally consumed by the local Saudian population as a nutrient, as
well as for the enhancement of fertility. The decline in male reproductive
health and fertility in the last 30 years has been linked to environmental toxicants
including octylphenol (OP). OP has been considered an endocrine disrupting
substance causing reproductive dysfunction and increase in reactive oxygen
species production in different organs including testis and honey has an
antioxidant property. The aim of this study was to elucidate the protective
effects of honey against reproductive toxicity induced by OP in male Sprague
Dawley rats. Six experimental groups receiving a combination of OP (0.1 and 1.0
mg kg_1 b.wt., corresponding to 1/100 and 1/10 LD50) and/or honey
(20 mg/ kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks were divided as follows: no treatment
(control); low dose OP alone (Group A); high dose OP alone (Group B); low dose
OP plus honey (Group C); high dose OP plus honey (Group D); and honey alone
(Group E). OP caused a significantly decreased the fertility index and weight
of testes. It induced testicular lesions characterized by moderate to severe
degenerative changes of seminiferous tubules and incomplete arrest of
spermatogenesis. Administration of Honey either alone or combined with OP
ameliorated these toxic effects. Similarly, histopathological results revealed
that OP caused alterations in the testes. In conclusion, Honey reduced the
histopathological stress toxicity induced by OP in the reproductive system of
male Sprague Dawley rats. A great attention should be taken during field
application of octylphenol to avoid its deleterious effects in farm animals and
occupationally exposed humans.
[Abu-Zinadah, O.A; Alsaggaf, S.O and
Shaikh Omar, A.M. Effect of Honey on Testicular Functions in
Rats Exposed to Octylphenol. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):979-984]
(ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.
Keywords: Honey, octylphenol, testis histopathology, reproductive toxicity .
