Research of the effects of astaxanthin and quercetin on spermatogenic dysfunction caused by malathion

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the curative effects of astaxanthin and quercetin against testicular damage and spermatogenic dysfunction in malathion-induced mice. Material and Methods: In this study, mice induced with malathion were treated with astaxanthin and quercetin for 5 weeks. At the end of the period, testicular tissue weights of the sacrificed animals were measured, the sperm count, motility and morphology were evaluated, testis and epididymis tissues were examined histologically, biochemical analyzes were made, testosterone levels of the testicular tissues were measured, Cas-3, Bax and Bcl-2 dependent mRNA expression levels were determined by qPCR and testicular tissue apoptosis rates were determined by the TUNEL experiment. Results: At the end of the experiment, it has been found that malathion caused a decrease in testicular tissue weights of animals, negatively affected their sperm morphology while decreasing sperm count and motility rates, impaired tissue integrity and function, limited antioxidant activity in testicular tissue, caused a decrease testosterone levels, increased apoptosis-related gene expression levels and induced apoptosis in testicular tissue. In the groups that were administered astaxanthin and quercetin, it was determined that all findings were opposite to the malathion group. Conclusion: In this study, it was concluded that malathion causes testicular damage and spermatogenic dysfunction, and astaxanthin and quercetin supplements which is orally taken have a curative effect againist this damage and dysfunction.