Quercetin attenuates testicular dysfunction induced by aluminum chloride in male Wistar rats

Aluminum (Al) exposure is one of the environmental factors involved in the pathogenesis of male infertility as a global health problem. Quercetin (Q) is a naturally occurring flavonol that improved testosterone (T) level and spermatogenesis against heavy metals-, diabetes-, and cancer-induced testicular intoxication in male rats. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Q against aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced testicular dysfunction in rats through evaluation of hormones of the pituitary-testicular axis, sperm parameters in the epididymis, and histological alterations in rat testis. After induction of testicular dysfunction in male rats by oral administration of AlCl3 (50 mg/kg) for 28 days, the therapeutic Q dose (50 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats for 28 days. The rats were divided into four groups (each group comprising eight rats): Normal control (NC), Q, AlCl3, and Q+ AlCl3. Q administration increased final body weight and genital organs' relative weight, and serum free testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the AlCl3-treated rats. Also, Q increased sperm count, motility, and progressive motility in the epididymis in AlCl3-treated rats. Further, Q administration to AlCl3-treated rats caused regeneration of the germinal epithelium in the seminiferous tubules and increased spermatocytes within the lumen. The current study suggests that Q administration may provide a significant therapeutic effect against AlCl3-induced testicular dysfunction in rats via improving the pituitary-testicular axis hormones, leading to increased sperm count and motility in the epididymis; and amelioration of histological alterations observed in the testes of AlCl3-rats.