Protective Effect of Curcumin and Nanocurcumin on Sperm Parameters and Oxidant-antioxidants System of Rat Testis in Aluminium Phosphide Subacute Poisoning

Objective: Aluminum phosphide (AlP) as an effective pesticide may contribute to oxidative stress and adversely influence sperm parameters. This study aimed to investigate the protective role of curcumin and nanocurcumin on oxidative damage in the testis of rats with AlP toxicity. Methods: A total of 42 adult male Wistar rats were equally randomized into the following study groups (n = 7): Control, Control+Curcumin, Control+Nanocurcumin, AlP, AlP+Curcumin, and AlP+Nanocurcumin. The testis tissue was used to investigate the levels of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as the Catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity. Epididymal sperm was used to perform sperm analysis. Results: AlP administration led to a significant increase in MDA, and TOS levels and also markedly decreased the SOD activity and the levels of TAC and GSH in testis tissue (p <0.001). Moreover, the motility and viability of sperms were significantly reduced (p <0.001). Curcumin and Nanocurcumin co-administration with AlP remarkably decreased the MDA and TOS level (p <0.001) and significantly increased the GSH and TAC levels as well as the activity of SOD in AlP intoxicated groups (p<0.001). Our findings demonstrated that Nanocurcumin administration has significantly enhanced the sperm quality in AlP intoxicated rats as compared to the control group (p <0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, Curcumin as a potential antioxidant could be an effective attenuative agent against AlP-induced oxidative damage in testis, especially when it is used in encapsulated form, nanocurcumin.