Effect of Tilia platyphyllos on Cadmium Chloride - Induced Testicular Damage in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Exposure to cadmium may negatively affect the male reproductive system via degenerative changes in the testes, epididymis, and seminal vesicle. Cadmium induces testicular lipid peroxidation by generating free radicals, thereby impairing the intracellular defense system. In folk medicine, the linden (Tilia platyphyllos L.) is used as a diuretic, stomachic, antispasmodic, and sedative agent. Previous studies have identified several phytochemicals, such as terpenoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids, in flowers and leaves. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of linden extract on cadmium-induced testicular damage in male Wistar rats. 

In the current experimental study, rats were randomly divided into 10 groups: normal control, linden extract (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg intragastrically, daily) alone, infertile control rats (cadmium chloride 3 mg/kg intragastrically, daily), linden extract (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg intragastrically, daily) together with cadmium chloride, and the treatment was performed accordingly. At the end of experiment (28 days), testes were removed for histopathology investigations. The tissue was postfixed in bouin buffer solution and dehydration, clarification, paraffin embedding, molding methods were performed. Histopathological changes (seminiferous tubules, number of spermatocyte, and spermatozoa, spermatid) were examined via Eosin and Haematoxylin staining. The testes pathology was scored using Johnsen score. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.

Our results showed that the mean of Johnsen’s score significantly decreased in the infertile control group compared to those in the normal control groups (p<0.001). The administration of linden extract prevented this histological alteration and significantly increased the mean Johnsen’s score in infertile rats. The histopathological studies on the tissues obtained from the the testes showed that linden extract significantly reduced (p<0.001) the toxicity of cadmium and preserved the normal histoarchitecture pattern of the testes.

Our results suggest that linden acts as a potent antioxidative agent against cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in rats.