Effect of Simultaneous Eight-Week Exercise and Crocin Usage on the Oxidation and Anti-oxidation Indices of Male Rats’ Testicles Subjected to Apoptosis

Studies have shown that physical activity and the consumption of the medicinal herb saffron affect patients who have testicular problems and those who are prone to apoptosis. In this study, the effects of simultaneous eight-week exercise and crocin usage on the oxidation and anti-oxidation indices of male rats’ testicles subjected to apoptosis were investigated.

In this experimental study, 56 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. The groups receiving supplement, exercise, and supplement received oral doses of 10 and 50 mg per kg of body weight for 8 weeks. The control group received only normal saline and the same amount of supplement as gavage. Fourty-eight hours after the last exercise session and after 10-12 hours of fasting overnight, blood samples were collected from animals after anesthesia and measured by dye-matase and catalase activity and the concentration of malondialdehyde in testicular tissue was measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20 (P < 0.05).

The results showed that in all groups except the sick group through exercise and receiving a dose of 10 and 50 mg per kg crocin, dismutase and catalase indices increase, and the malondialdehyde index decreased and the T4 (doxorubicine + 10 mg crocin) group significantly increased in the antioxidant index and decreased in oxidative index (P < 0.05).

The findings of this study showed that endurance training and crocin dose-dependent injections by decreasing the toxicity of doxorubicin reduced the oxidative stress and free radicals and made good compatibility in the antioxidant system of testicular tissue in male rats.