Potential Protective Effect of Hesperidin (Vitamin P) against Glyphosate-Induced Spermatogenesis Damage in Male Rats: Biochemical and Histopathological Findings on Reproductive Parameters

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of hesperidin (HES) on testicular histopathological changes, biochemical changes, and semen characteristics in rats exposed to glyphosate (GLP). The control group was given a normal diet devoid of GLP and HES, the HES group was given 100 mg/kg/day HES with the normal diet, the GLP group was given GLP at the LD50/10 dose of normal feed, which was 787.85 mg/kg/day, and the GLP + HES group was given normal feed containing 787.85 mg/kg/day LD50/10 dose of GLP in addition to 100 mg/kg/day HES. GLP administration reduced sperm motility, sperm plasma membrane integrity, glutathione levels, and total antioxidant levels in the testicular tissues of rats. Moreover, it caused an increase in right testis and left epididymis weights, abnormal sperm counts, malondialdehyde levels, total oxidant status, and DNA damage. The HES treatment showed curative effects on these parameters. Furthermore, HES was effective in lessening the histopathological damage that was caused by GLP. The results showedthat HES protects spermatological parameters and DNA integrity, improves antioxidant defenses, and lowers the damage and lipid peroxidation caused by GLP in testicular tissue.

Keywords

• glyphosate toxicity
• hesperidin
• testis
• histopathology
• spermatozoa