EFFECT OF CURCUMIN IN ATTENUATING SODIUM FLUORIDE- AND FLUORIDE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER-INDUCED REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY IN MALE RATS

The present study was undertaken to investigate the ameliorative potency of curcumin on sodium fluoride (NaF)- and fluoride (F) contaminated groundwater (GW)-induced reproductive toxicity in Wistar male rats. Exposure of adult male rats to NaF (10 mg/kg bw) and fluoridated GW (5 mg F/L) daily for 52 days caused a significant decrease in the body weight and the relative weight of the accessory reproductive organs, the total sperm count, the sperm motility, the activity of testicular 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSDH), the serum concentration of testosterone, the counts of the different stages of the spermatogonial cells and the activities of testicular and spermatozoal superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) with an increase in sperm abnormality and the malondialdehyde concentration of testis and spermatozoa compared to controls. Furthermore, significant histological alterations in the testis characterized with shrunken seminiferous tubules and degeneration of different stages of spermatogonial cells were observed in the NaF- and fluoridated GW-treated rats compared to the controls. However, pretreatment of curcumin attenuated the NaF- and F contaminated GW-induced alterations in the male reproductive system. Three doses of curcumin were tested and thee highest dose of 100 mg/kg bw was more potent, compared to 1 mg and 10 mg/kg bw of curcumin. All the parameters studied with the 100 mg/kg bw of curcumin-pretreated F-exposed rats were similar to those of the controls. Furthermore, the treatment of curcumin, at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw, normalized the antioxidant status of the male reproductive system to levels similar to those of the controls despite the exposure to F. The protective action of curcumin in rats, in a dose of 100 mg/kg bw, against F-induced reproductive toxicity is due to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties.