Protective Effects of Tamarillo () Extract Against Apoptosis in Lead Acetate-Induced Mice Testicular Damage.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the protective effects of Tamarillo () extract on lead acetate-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis in male mice.

METHODS

A post-test-only control group experimental study was conducted on Balb/c mice. Thirty-five male mice 12 weeks old were randomly divided into 5 groups: two control groups (K-, K+) and three treatment groups (P1, P2, P3). The K- received distilled water, and the K+ received 75 mg/kg lead acetate. The P1, P2, and P3 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of Tamarillo crude extracts (TCE), respectively for 35 days, and on the fourth day, were given lead acetate 75 mg/kg one hour after the TCE administration by gavage tube. The effect of TCE against lead-induced oxidative stress in mice was determined by the expression of mouse testicular apoptosis using terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, the expression of Caspase-3, and SOD.

RESULTS

TCE at the dose of 400 mg/kg showed comparable apoptosis and SOD expression to the negative control group (K-). Notably, the level of Caspase-3 among treatment groups showed lower expression than the K- group despite the injection of lead acetate.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that TCE exhibits antioxidant activity and protects the reproductive system by inhibiting lead acetate to induce oxidative damage and testicular damage.