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Preservation of antioxidant defense system by Morin in bicalutamide-induced rat testicular toxicity

Bicalutamide (BCT) is a potent anti-androgen chemotherapeutic drug indicated for prostate cancer. However, BCT is known to cause oxidative stress and impairment of male reproductive function. Whereas Morin (MOR), a flavonoid has been found to be a potent antioxidant, with free radical scavenging capacity. This study investigated the protective effect of MOR on BCT-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty-four male albino rats were randomized into four groups (n=6/group). Group I which served as control received distilled water. Group II, received 3 mg/kg body weight (bwt) BCT orally (per os); group III received 3 mg/kg/day BCT p.o. plus 100 mg/kg/d MOR p.o. and group IV received 100 mg/kg/d MOR p.o. All treatments lasted for 14 days, thereafter, animals were sacrificed and epididymis and testis were collected for sperm and biochemical analyses. The result revealed that BCT treatment caused a significant increase in abnormal sperm morphology. Sperm production, sperm count, motility and viability were significantly reduced when compared with control (p<0.05). Similarly, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx),glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities, as well as ascorbic acid and GSH levels were significantly reduced in the BCT- treated animals when compared to control (p<0.05). Conversely, testicular alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenese (LDH) activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of BCT-treated animals  increased significantly relative to control (p<0.05). However, co-treatment with Morin ameliorated BCT-induced alterations in sperm parameters, ascorbic acid, GSH and MDA levels, as well as LDH, SOD, CAT, GST, GPX, ACP, ALP and GGT activities. Data obtained from this study suggest that Morin protected against altered sperm parameters and testicular oxidative stress caused by BCT. 
Keywords: Bicalutamide, Anti-androgen, Testis, Oxidative stress, Morin, Antioxidant, Rat