The Protective Effect of Curcumin and Vitamin D on Physiological and Histopathological Changes of Testis in Adult Rats Treated with Methotrexate: An Experimental Study

Curcumin and vitamin D have antioxidant activities. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of curcumin and vitamin D on the physiological and histopathological changes of the testis in adult rats treated with methotrexate.

In this experimental study, 25 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 5. Control group, sham group: 1 ml of distilled water as a solvent, methotrexate (5 mg/kg), methotrexate (5 mg/kg) + curcumin (200 mg/kg) + vitamin D (500 IU/kg), and methotrexate (5 mg/kg) + curcumin (400 mg/kg) + vitamin D (1000 IU/kg). After 28 days of treatment with curcumin and vitamin D (gavage), blood was taken directly from the heart to measure serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone. The testicles were removed and tissue changes were examined after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test.

Testosterone hormone level, number of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, sperm and Leydig showed a significant decrease in the experimental group 1 compared to the control and sham groups, but the serum level of LH and FSH hormones showed a significant increase (p<0.05). The level of testosterone hormone, the number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, sperm and Leydig in the experimental groups 4 and 3 showed a significant increase compared to the experimental group 1, but the serum level of LH and FSH hormones showed a significant decrease (p<0.05).

Probably, curcumin and vitamin D, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can improve the physiological and histopathological changes of the testis in the adult rats treated with methotrexate.