Attenuation of carbon tetrachloride-induced male reproductive damage in albino laboratory rats using varying concentrations of supplemented soybean.

BACKGROUND

Male infertility is closely linked to testicular damage caused by environmental chemicals. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), widely used in manufacturing chlorinated chemicals, is highly toxic to the liver, testes, and other organs. Its testicular toxicity involves oxidative stress, apoptosis, and hyperlipidemia. Plant-derived proteins such as soybeans, with phytoestrogenic properties, have gained attention for their potential health benefits.

AIM: This study investigated the protective effect of soybean on CCl4-induced testicular damage.

METHODS

Twenty-eight male albino rats were divided into four groups: control, CCl4-treated (1.0 ml/kg intraperitoneally, thrice weekly for 3 weeks), CCl4-treated plus 10% soybean diet, and CCl4-treated plus 30% soybean diet (as a schematic cartoon in Fig. 1). After 7 weeks, serum lipoproteins, testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured; histopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed, including cleaved caspase-3 expression.

RESULTS

CCl4 exposure significantly reduced high-density lipid-cholesterol, increased low-density lipid-cholesterol, elevated MDA, altered GPx activity, intensified caspase-3 staining, and caused marked testicular structural deterioration. Soybean supplementation ameliorated these effects, restoring lipid profiles, reducing oxidative markers, preserving testicular architecture, improving spermatogenesis, and mitigating caspase-3 expression.

CONCLUSION

Overall, soybean exerts antioxidant and immunoprotective effects against CCl4-induced testicular damage, suggesting a potential dietary strategy to counteract reproductive toxicity.