The effect of bee pollen on reproductive and biochemical parameters in methotrexate-induced testicular damage in adult rats

Ozlem Saral; Eda Dokumacioglu; Sinan Saral; Aysegul Sumer; Ozgur Bulmus; Seyma Ozer Kaya; Sinan Canpolat

doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0152

Article

The effect of bee pollen on reproductive and biochemical parameters in methotrexate-induced testicular damage in adult rats

Ozlem Saral , Eda Dokumacioglu , Sinan Saral , Aysegul Sumer , Ozgur Bulmus , Seyma Ozer Kaya and Sinan Canpolat

Published/Copyright: December 14, 2020

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From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 32 Issue 5

Abstract

Objectives

Methotrexate (MTX) is an anticancer drug used in chemotherapy. MTX was known for its toxic effects involving most of the organs including testis. Bee pollen is healthy food for human and has antioxidant effect. We intended to determine protective effect of bee pollen against testicular injury caused by MTX in rats.

Methods

Thirty-two adult Sprague Dawley male rats were used, and 4 groups were formed: control, MTX, pollen, and MTX + pollen. Rats were given pollen at a dose of 400 mg/kg with intragastric gavage for 10 days. On day 7, MTX was administered a single dose of 30 mg/kg ip. Serum testosterone and LH, tissue MDA level, and SOD and CAT enzyme activities were examined. In addition, spermatological parameters were evaluated.

Results

MDA level and SOD activity increased while testosterone level decreased significantly in the MTX group compared to the control group. In the MTX + pollen group, MDA level and SOD activity decreased while testosterone level increased. There was no significant change in CAT activity and LH values. Abnormal sperm ratio decreased in the MTX + pollen group compared to the MTX group.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that bee pollen has a healing effect on reproductive parameters in testicular damage caused by MTX.

Keywords: methotrexate; oxidative stress; pollen; testicular damage; testosterone

Corresponding author: Dr. Sinan Saral, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize, Turkey, Phone: +90 0464 2123009-3214, E-mail: sinansaral61@msn.com

Funding source: Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2015.53007.110.03.01

Acknowledgment

This project was supported by Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Thanks to Macahel Apiculture Co. Ltd. which has helped us to supply bee pollen.

Research funding: This project was supported by Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (RTEUBAP).
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval: Fırat University, Local Ethics Committee for Animal Experiments was applied at the planning stage and the study was planned in line with the ethics committee decision (protocol no. 2017/72).

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Received: 2020-05-14

Accepted: 2020-08-21

Published Online: 2020-12-14

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0152

Keywords for this article

methotrexate; oxidative stress; pollen; testicular damage; testosterone