The present study aimed to investigate the protective potential of naringin (NG) against di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP)- induced testicular damage and impairment of spermatogenesis in rats. Forty-two male Wistar albino rats were divided into six equal groups, and treated orally, 3 times weekly for 8 successive weeks. Control vehicle group was administrated olive oil, naringin-treated group was administered NG (80 mg/kg), DBP 250- and DBP 500- intoxicated groups received DBP (250 mg/kg) and (500 mg/kg), respectively, NG + DBP 250 and NG + DBP 500 groups received NG, an hour prior to DBP 250 and 500 administration. The results revealed that DBP induced dose-dependent male reproductive dysfunctions, included a significant decrease in the serum testosterone level concomitantly with significant decreases in the sperm count, viability, and total motility. Meanwhile, DBP significantly increased the testicular malondialdehyde level with significant reductions of glutathione content and catalase activity. Histopathologically, DBP provoked absence of spermatozoa, degenerative changes in the cell layers of seminiferous tubules and a significant decrease in the thickness of the seminiferous tubules epithelium. Conversely, the concomitant treatment with NG, one hour before DBP 250 or 500- intoxication mitigated the dose-dependent reproductive dysfunctions induced by DBP, evidenced by significant increases of serum testosterone level, sperm motility, count and viability along with marked improvement of the oxidant/antioxidant status and testicular histoarchitecture. In conclusion, the findings recorded herein proved that NG could mitigate DBP-induced testicular damage and impairment of spermatogenesis, suggesting the perspective of using NG as a natural protective and therapeutic agent for alleviating the reproductive dysfunctions and improving reproductive performance, mainly via its potent antioxidant activity.

本研究旨在探讨柚皮苷（NG）对邻苯二甲酸二正丁酯（DBP）引起的大鼠睾丸损伤和精子发生损伤的保护潜力。将 42 只雄性 Wistar 白化大鼠分为 6 个相等组，并进行口服治疗，每周 3 次，连续 8 周。对照组给予橄榄油，柚皮苷处理组给予NG（80 mg/kg），DBP 250-和DBP 500-中毒组分别给予DBP（250 mg/kg）和（500 mg/kg），NG + DBP 250 和 NG + DBP 500 组在 DBP 250 和 500 给药前一小时接受 NG。结果显示，DBP 会引起剂量依赖性的男性生殖功能障碍，包括血清睾酮水平显着降低，同时精子数量、活力和总活力显着降低。同时，DBP显着增加睾丸丙二醛水平，并显着降低谷胱甘肽含量和过氧化氢酶活性。在组织病理学上，DBP引起精子缺失、生精小管细胞层的退行性变化以及生精小管上皮厚度的显着减少。相反，在 DBP 250 或 500 中毒前 1 小时同时使用 NG 治疗可减轻 DBP 引起的剂量依赖性生殖功能障碍，血清睾酮水平、精子活力、计数和活力显着增加，同时氧化剂显着改善。 /抗氧化状态和睾丸组织结构。 总之，本文记录的研究结果证明，NG 可以减轻 DBP 引起的睾丸损伤和精子发生损伤，提示使用 NG 作为天然保护和治疗剂，主要通过其有效的抗氧化剂来减轻生殖功能障碍和改善生殖性能。活动。