Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira platensis) attenuates Cyclophosphamide‐induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats: Evidence for sperm apoptosis and p53/Bcl‐2 expression

Cyclophosphamide is an antitumor agent that causes disorders in fertility. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Spirulina platensis against Cyclophosphamide‐induced testicular toxicity. 42 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. Experimental groups included three groups. The first experimental group received Cyclophosphamide at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally. The second and third experimental groups received 5 mg/kg BW Cyclophosphamide and 500 and 1,000 mg/kg BW S. platensis orally, respectively. The control groups included a control group, and two S. platensis control groups. Following 28 days, two flow cytometry techniques were used to determine sperm apoptosis and testicular protein expression of tumor protein (p53) and B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2). p53 is a tumor suppressor protein that causes the cell to enter the apoptosis cycle after DNA damage and Bcl‐2 is an anti‐apoptotic protein that acts through the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. FITC‐Annexin V assay was used for sperm apoptosis evaluation. For protein expression assay, primary and secondary antibodies staining were performed. The Cyclophosphamide group showed a significant increase in sperm apoptosis compared to the control group. Cyclophosphamide significantly increased p53 and decreased Bcl‐2 expression compared to the control group. S. platensis co‐treated groups exhibited a significant decrease in sperm apoptosis compared to the Cyclophosphamide group. Moreover, S. platensis co‐treated groups displayed a significant decreasing in p53 and increasing in Bcl‐2 expression compared to the Cyclophosphamide group. The results of this study indicated that S. platensis protected rats against Cyclophosphamide‐induced reproductive toxicity. Practical applications Cyclophosphamide is the chemotherapy agent used to treat different cancers. Cyclophosphamide has side effects on the male reproductive system. Spirulina plantesis has a protective effect because of its antioxidant and anti‐apoptotic properties. Co‐administration of Spirulina plantesis with Cyclophosphamide reduces sperm apoptosis also decreases P53 protein expression and increases Bcl‐2 protein expression. This study validated the anti‐apoptotic potential of Spirulina plantesis against Cyclophosphamide‐induced male reproductive toxicity. Cyclophosphamide is the chemotherapy agent used to treat different cancers. Cyclophosphamide has side effects on the male reproductive system. This drug increas