Effects of quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids on the changes in testes due to ethanol exposure

The harmful systemic effects of alcohol (ethanol) whose consumption usually starts in the adolescence have been shown in various studies. The studies have also shown that alcohol inhibits male reproductive activity in laboratory animals and humans as well as causing degenerative changes in testis. In this study, the effects of quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids separately and in combination on the changes in testes due to ethanol exposure were investigated.In this study it has been planned to use 45 adult male rats by assigning them into five groups, namely 1) Control group (SF 3 g/kg), 2) Ethanol (40% 3 g/kg) group, 3) Ethanol (40% 3 g/kg) + quercetin (270 mg/kg) group, 4) Ethanol (40% 3 g/kg) + fish n-3 fatty acid (400 mg/kg) group, and 5) Ethanol (40% 3 g/kg) + quercetin (270 mg/kg) + fish n-3 fatty acid (400 mg/kg) group. All effective substances were administered by intragastric lavage for eight weeks.At the end of 8-week period, all of the rats were sacrificed by removing their blood and testes under ketamine+ksilazine anesthesia. Each left testes were used for biochemical studies, while the right ones were used for immunohistochemical analyses. Tissue sections from testes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H-E). Apoptotic cells were studied by using TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Biotin-dUTP Nick End Labeling) assay. For biochemical analysis, the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured spectrophotometricly. In addition, total serum testosterone levels were determined. Statistical analyses of the numeric data were performed and the comparissons between groups were done.It has been observed that the ethanol-administered rats have retarded in terms of body weight gain, besides developing degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules, in germ line and Leydig cells in histopathologic analyses as well as showing decrease in seminiferous tubule diameters. TUNEL assay also showed an increase in apoptotic cell number. Additionally, total serum testosterone levels were found to have decreased. Biochemically, an increase in MDA and NO levels were detected, whereas a decrease in SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and XO activities were observed.Morphologic and morphometric changes and damages caused by alcohol (ethanol) have been reversed (recovered) partly by giving quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids seperately, while it was reversed almost completely by giving them in combination.It was also found that protection was provided by increasing SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities in groups administered either Quercetin or Fish n-3 fatty acids only, and by lowering the levels of MDA and NO in groups administered both Quercetin and Fish n-3 fatty acids together.In conclusion, this study showed that alcohol (ethanol) causes damage in rat testes morhologically and biochemically, and this damage can be reversed in part by using either Quercetin or Fish n-3 fatty acids only and can be reversed completely by using Quercetin or Fish n-3 fatty acids in combination.