Quercetin mediated attenuation of cadmium‐induced oxidative toxicity and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in caprine testes in vitro

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd), an environmental toxic heavy metal, has been reported to cause testicular toxicity, which contributes to the recent decline in male fertility worldwide. Quercetin (Qcn), a major dietary antioxidant, has been shown to have protective effects under various pathological conditions. However, whether Qcn provides protection against Cd‐stimulated testicular toxicity remains obscured. The present study was therefore aimed at investigating the ameliorative effect of Qcn supplementation on Cd‐induced toxicity in the goat testis in vitro in a dose‐(10, 50, and 100\u2009μM) and time‐dependent (4 and 8 h) manner. Different cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and biochemical analyses have been carried out using appropriate methods. Cytotoxicity in testicular cells induced by Cd treatment was apparently mitigated by Qcn treatment, evidenced by decreased apoptotic attributes or frequency in Qcn plus Cd‐treated groups compared to the only Cd‐treated groups. Qcn treatment provides substantial protection to the Cd‐triggered aggression in oxidative (increased MDA levels) and total antioxidant capacity (reduced FRAP activity) in testicular tissue, indicating the anti‐oxidative function of Qcn against Cd exposure. Moreover, Cd‐induced decline in antioxidant status (CAT, SOD, and GST activity) was markedly restored by Qcn supplementation in testicular tissue. In conclusion, this study shows that Qcn treatment significantly attenuated the Cd‐evoked testicular damage, suggesting its beneficial potential in preventing or at least in managing the gonadotoxicity in males induced by steadily increasing Cd contamination in the environment.