Objective: 

Ethanol exposure is known to suppress male reproductive activity in laboratory animals and humans. Quercetin is a natural antioxidant. In this study, the effects of quercetin on the testicular changes due to ethanol exposure in rats were investigated.

Methods: 

The animals were divided into three groups. Group 1) Control (Saline 3 ml/kg/day, i.g.; n=9), Group 2) Ethanol (40% 3 g/kg/day, i.g.; n=9), Group 3) Ethanol + Quercetin (270 mg/kg/day, i.g.; n=9). After 8-weeks of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the testes were removed for biochemical and histopathological investigation. Tissue sections from testes were stained with hematoxylin & eosin. Apoptotic cells were analyzed by using TUNEL assay. The activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px as well as MDA and NO levels were measured by spectrophotometry.

Results: 

It has been observed that the ethanol administered rats have retarded in terms of body weight gain, besides developing degenerative changes in morphologic analyses as well as showing decrease in seminiferous tubule diameters. TUNEL assay also showed an increase in apoptotic cell number. Biochemically, increases in MDA and NO levels were detected, whereas decreases in SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities were observed.

Histopathologic changes caused by ethanol have been recovered partly or completely by giving quercetin. It was also found that protection was provided by increasing SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities and by decreasing the levels of NO in groups administered quercetin.

Conclusions: 

In view of the present findings, it is suggested that quercetin treatment may prevent ethanol-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in rat testes.