Journal de cytologie et d'histologie

Histological and Histochemical Study on the Protective Effect of Curcumin on Ultraviolet Irradiation Induced Testicular Damage in Albino Rats

Abstract

Hafiza A Sharaf, Fatma A Morsy, Nermeen M Shaffie and Ahmed TM El-Shennawy

Decrease in the ozone layer leads to increase in the amount of dangerous ultraviolet radiation that reaches the earth’s surface. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation leads to tissue damage. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of curcumin on testicular damage induced by Ultraviolet Irradiation (UVR) histologically, histochemically and morphometrically. 60 albino rats were divide into 5 groups (twelve rats each) the first group served as control. The second group was exposed to ultraviolet C rays for ½ an hour (900 joule) for three consecutive days. The third group was treated with curcumin at a dose level of 5 mg/kg body weight. The fourth group was treated with curcumin at a dose level of 25 mg/kg body weight at. The fifth group was treated with curcumin at a dose level of 50 mg/kg body weight. Rats in the last three groups were treated with curcumin for 4 weeks prior to exposure to ultraviolet rays. Sections were used for histopathological study on image analysis and morphometric measurments. Histochemical stain were used to demonstrate the DNA and glycogen content. Results of this study revealed that exposure to ultraviolet rays led to changes blood vessels and disturbance of spermatogenic layers, while using curcumin prior to exposure to ultraviolet rays in a small dose (5 mg/kg) led to restoration of the normal structure in most of the seminiferous tubules. A dose of 25 mg/kg of curcumin as a protecting agent led to depletion of spermatogenic cells above the level of spermatocytes in many of the tubules, while a dose of 50 mg/kg of curcumin led to exfoliation of spermatogenic cells in some tubules and depletion of long spermatids. In conclusion, the present work reported that the treatment of rats with curcumin in a dose of 5mg/kg body weight prior to exposure to ultraviolet rays led to a good protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet C irradiation, while higher doses of curcumin (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight ) had much less protecting effects.