Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate whether cinnamon bark oil (CBO) has protective effect on
taxanes-induced adverse changes in sperm quality, testicular and epididymal oxidant/antioxidant
balance, testicular apoptosis, and sperm DNA integrity. For this purpose, 88 adult male rats were
equally divided into 8 groups: control, CBO, docetaxel (DTX), paclitaxel (PTX), DTX+PTX, DTX+CBO,
PTX+CBO, and DTX+PTX+CBO. CBO was given by gavage daily for 10 weeks at the dose of
100 mg/kg. DTX and PTX were administered by intraperitoneal injection at the doses of 5 and 4 mg/
kg/week, respectively, for 10 weeks. DTX+PTX and DTX+PTX+CBO groups were treated with DTX
during first 5 weeks and PTX during next 5 weeks. DTX, PTX, and their mixed administrations caused
significant decreases in absolute and relative weights of all reproductive organs, testosterone level,
sperm motility, concentration, glutathione level, and catalase activity in testicular and epididymal
tissues. They also significantly increased abnormal sperm rate, testicular and epididymal
malondialdehyde level, apoptotic germ cell number, and sperm DNA fragmentation and
significantly damaged the histological structure of testes. CBO consumption by DTX-, PTX-, and
DTX+PTX-treated rats provided significant ameliorations in decreased relative weights of
reproductive organs, decreased testosterone, decreased sperm quality, imbalanced oxidant/
antioxidant system, increased apoptotic germ cell number, rate of sperm with fragmented DNA,
and severity of testicular histopathological lesions induced by taxanes. In conclusion, taxanes cause
impairments in sperm quality, testicular and epididymal oxidant/antioxidant balance, testicular
histopathological structure, and sperm DNA integrity, and long-term CBO consumption protects
male reproductive system of rats.
