Investigation of the effect of naringenin on oxidative stress-related alterations in testis of hydrogen peroxide-administered rats

Abstract

Testis tissue is prone to oxidation because its plasma membrane contains many polyunsaturated fatty acids. Naringenin is a plant-derived natural flavonoid. We investigated the possible ameliorative role of naringenin on the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced testicular damage in Wistar rats. Animals received 12mg/kg H2O2 by intraperitoneal injection, and 50mg/kg naringenin via orogastric gavage for 4 weeks. In the H2O2 group, the testis malondialdehyde level increased, while the amount of reduced glutathione, glutathione transferase activities, and the testis weight decreased. There were severe testicular damages in the H2O2 group otherwise their grade were less in the naringenin+H2O2 group. However, the serum testosterone concentrations decreased in both the H2O2 and the naringenin+H2O2 groups. The testicular zinc and calcium levels reduced in the H2O2-treated rats. In conclusion, the administration of H2O2 caused oxidative stress in the testes and naringenin supplementation decreased the H2O2-induced effects, except for changes in testosterone levels.