Antiapoptotic effects of anthocyanin on testicular damage induced by varicocele in male rats.

Varicocele is one of the most important disorders causing infertility in men, and oxidative stress is one of the most important factors affecting testicular parenchyma damage caused by varicocele. This study explored the effect of anthocyanins on varicocele-induced testis injury in adult Wistar rats by focusing on regulating oxidative stress, Bax and Bcl-2 genes, and protein related to cell death. Rats (n = 32) were divided into four groups: Control (Sham), varicocele, varicocele + anthocyanin, and anthocyanin alone. At the end of the study (week 8), the animals were sacrificed, and H&E staining was used for testicular histopathology. The IHC method was used for the detection of Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression, and TUNEL assays were used to analyze testicular Apoptosis. Additionally, serum levels of oxidative stress markers - MDA, SOD, and GPx - were assessed by ELISA, and RT-qPCR analyzed the mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2. Histological analysis revealed notable improvements in Johnsen's score, epithelial thickness, and seminiferous tubule diameter in the varicocele + anthocyanin group relative to the varicocele-only group (p < 0.005). Protein and mRNA expression of Bax significantly increased in the varicocele group (p < 0.005), while treatment with anthocyanin enhanced Bcl-2 expression (p < 0.005). Furthermore, the rate of apoptotic positive germ cells decreased when the rats received anthocyanin. Moreover, anthocyanin increased serum levels of GPx and SOD while decreasing MDA levels in the treatment group compared to rats with varicocele (p < 0.005). These outcomes suggest that anthocyanin may moderate testicular injury from varicocele, primarily through its antioxidative properties.