Protective impacts of gallic acid against cadmium-induced oxidative toxicity in the ovary of rats

This study evaluates the probable effects of induced reproductive toxicity by cadmium and its amelioration by gallic acid (GA). Adult female rats were daily administered with cadmium (CdCl 2 ) (5 mg/kg) singly or combined with GA (20 mg/kg) for 14 days to evaluate the effect on antioxidant status and ovary function using biochemical and histological analysis. Cadmium-treated rats alone revealed a considerable increment in total body weight and ovaries’ weight due to muscle wasting. However, GA + cadmium reversed considerably the tread and offered protection against cadmium-induced muscle wasting. Cadmium treatment alone decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) level, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) and also increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Besides, the administration of GA alone or in combination mitigated the cadmium-mediated decrease in GSH, SOD, and CAT, respectively. Serum concentrations of estrogen (E), testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were reduced significantly in cadmium-treated rats. Histopathology of the ovaries showed a considerable reduction in follicle number. GA treatment alone and CdCl 2 + GA-treatment group decreased cell death of follicular cells in the ovaries of rats and increased serum reproductive hormones. Taken together, gallic acid prevented the deleterious impacts of CdCl 2 on the biomarkers of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, and ovarian histopathological structure.