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In Vivo Attenuation of Alcohol- and Cadmium Chloride–Induced Testicular Toxicity Modulated by Silymarin in Male Wistar Rat

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Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the in vivo attenuation of alcohol- and cadmium chloride–induced testicular toxicity modulated by Silymarin in male Wistar rats. A total of fifty-six (56) Wistar rats were used for this study and they were randomized into seven (7) groups of eight (8) rats each. Group 1 was control rats; Groups 2–7 served as the experimental groups. After 6 weeks treatment duration, the rats were euthanized, semen was collected for semen analysis, blood samples for testosterone, and FSH and LH assay determination, and left testes was harvested for histological analysis. One-way ANOVA was used to compare means at p-level < 0.05 was considered significant. Findings from this study have shown that alcohol and cadmium chloride adversely affected semen parameters, testosterone, and FSH and LH hormone milieu. Data also showed that Silymarin administration attenuated the adverse effect of alcohol and cadmium chloride on semen quality and hormones associated with reproductive functions. Hence, Silymarin mopped the effect of in vivo attenuation of alcohol and cadmium chloride testicular damage. The findings of this study have further established that alcohol and cadmium chloride adversely affected semen parameters, testicular alterations, and serum hormonal milieu. However, the effect was more significantly deleterious in rats exposed to cadmium chloride when compared to rats exposed to alcohol, subsequently alcohol- and cadmium chloride–induced degeneration of testicular tissues. Furthermore, Silymarin administration attenuated the adverse effect of alcohol on semen quality and hormones associated with reproductive functions.

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Data Availability

The data that supports the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on request and approval from all authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

    Blessing Enebeli, Eze Kingsley Nwangwa, Augustina Nzenegu, Ejime Agbonifo-Chijiokwu, Oghenerukevwe Omeru & Emmanuel Ikemefune Ebuwa

  2. Department of Human Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

    Bartholomew Chukwuebuka Nwogueze

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  1. Blessing Enebeli
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Contributions

All authors participated in the design, interpretation of the studies, and analysis of the data and gave final approval of the manuscript. EB, NBC, AE, OO, NA, EEI, and NEK conducted the experiments, EB and NEK conceptualized, designed, and wrote the manuscript, NBC and OO drafted and critically revised the manuscript, AE, NA, and EEI contributed to analysis, methodology, and interpretation. All authors read and approved the manuscript. The authors declare that all data were generated in-house and that no paper mill was used.

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Correspondence to Bartholomew Chukwuebuka Nwogueze.

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Enebeli, B., Nwangwa, E.K., Nwogueze, B.C. et al. In Vivo Attenuation of Alcohol- and Cadmium Chloride–Induced Testicular Toxicity Modulated by Silymarin in Male Wistar Rat. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 3666–3676 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02944-3

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