Indian Journal of Animal Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 4

Geraniol abrogates aluminum-elicited testicular toxicity and endocrine-sperm deficits by curtailing oxidative inflammation and caspase-dependent apoptosis in male rats

  • Author:
  • Nourah Almulhim1,*, Manal Alfwuaires2, Hany Elsawy3,**, Azza Sedky4
  • Total Page Count: 8
  • Page Number: 638 to 645

1Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

2Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia

3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

4Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

*Corresponding Authors: Nourah Almulhim, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, Email: nmalmulhim@kfu.edu.sa

**Hany Elsawy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt, hany.mostafa@science.tanta.edu.eg. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8250-4023

Online published on 9 July, 2025.

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant associated with adverse effect on the testis. Thus, we investigated the protective effect of GER against Al-induced testicular injury and endocrine-sperm deficits in male rats.

Adult male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control group, GER group (100 mg/kg body weight for 28 consecutive days, orally), Al group (200 mg/kg body weight every 3 days for 28 days, ip) and GER + Al group (100 mg/kg + 200 mg/kg). Levels of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured in serum. Testicular parameters of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis were analysed, as well as sperm parameters and testis histology.

The Al exposure significantly (p<0.05) decreased levels of T, LH, FSH, IL-4 and IL-10, whereas Al increased oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptotic markers compared to the control. Al induced marked histopathological abrasions and caused adverse effects on sperm parameters compared to the control. On the contrary, the co-administration of GER with Al ameliorated the Al-induced endocrine-sperm deficits, testicular oxidative stress, cytokine inflammation and apoptosis. GER is a potential natural monoterpene for prevention of Al-induced testicular toxicity and endocrine-sperm dysfunction in rats.

Keywords

Aluminium chloride, Geraniol, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Testis, Toxicity