The Effect of Maternal Treatment With Diclofenac Sodium and Thymoquinone on Testicular Parameters in Rat Offspring

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Diclofenac sodium (DS) can have toxic effects on various tissues and organs, as well as causing foetal and new-born malformations. Thymoquinone (TQ), the basic bioactive compound of black seed oil, is an antioxidant and antineoplastic substance. The aim of our study was to explore the effects of DS and TQ exposure during gestation on offspring rat testicular histology. Materials and methods: Mother pregnant rats were divided into five groups: control, saline, DS, TQ and DS plus TQ (DS + TQ) four animals for each group. They were then treated as follows between day of 5 and 15 of gestation: the control group received no treatment. The saline group received physiological saline (1 mg/kg/d) via the intraperitoneal (IP) route; the DS group received an intramuscular (IM) injection of DS (6.1 mg/kg/d); the TQ group received TQ (5 mg/kg/d) dissolved in drinking water; and the DS + TQ group received DS (6.1 mg/kg/d) and TQ (5 mg/kg/d) dissolved in water. After birth, the male rats were fed for four weeks, and at the end of this period offspring were sacrificed. Stereological methods, physical disector and Cavalieri principle were used for particle counting and volume estimation respectively. Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in the total number of Sertoli and Leydig cells in 4-week-old rats in the DS group (p < 0.05), and TQ not have provide protection against this adverse effect of DS. Conclusions: In this study, DS at a dose of 6.1 mg/kg, equivalent to a dose of 1 mg/kg in humans, decreased the number of Sertoli and Leydig cells, and TQ did not have a protective effect against the adverse effect of DS during the gestation period. These results show that new dose depend studies on TQ and DS interaction are requested to see protective effect of TQ. (C) 2019 Asociacion Espanola de Andrologia, Medicina Sexual y Reproductiva. Published by Elsevier Espanola, S.L.U. All rights reserved.