Protective Effects of Nano-Zinc Oxide on Spermatogenesis in Adult Male Rats Treated with Paclitaxel

Paclitaxel is used in chemotherapy to treat cancers of the breast, ovary, lung, bladder, prostate, and testes. Considering the role of nano-zinc oxide antioxidant in anti-inflammatory processes, in this study, we used nano-zinc oxide for protective effect on spermatogenesis in adult male rats.

18 Wistar adult male rats with a mean weight of 250 g were divided 3groups under a standard diet. Then, control group was intraperitoneally treated with normal saline, second group with paclitaxel (3 mg/kg), and the third with paclitaxel and nano-zinc oxide (5 mg/kg). 48 days after the treatment, the rats were sacrificed without pain by C2O, and blood and testicular tissue samples were prepared. The levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined. Using hematoxylin and eosin staining, germinal cells were counted using samples randomly. One way ANOVA and Duncan tests were used for data analysis at the statistical significant level of P < 0.05.

The mean serum levels of testosterone, LH, and FSH hormones, and the number of germinal cells in testicular tissue decreased in the group treated with paclitaxel compared to the control group. The above indices improved in the group treated with paclitaxel and nano-zinc oxide compared to the paclitaxel-treated group

It seems that consumption of paclitaxel with impression on male germ cells result in decrease in spermatogenesis process. Using of the nano-zinc oxide as protective factor can compensate negative effects caused by paclitaxel on germ cells and the process of spermatogenesis.