P53 Expression in Response to Equigan Induced Testicular Injury and Oxidative Stress in Male Rat and the Possible Prophylactic Effect of Star Anise Extracts

Objectives: Equigan is an anabolic androgenic steroid that developed for veterinary use to improve the food producing animal growth rate through promoting protein synthesis and muscle growth. The current study aimed to investigate the possible prophylactic effect of star anise extracts (SAE) response of to Equigan induced testicular injury, oxidative stress, P53 expression in male rats.

Materials and Methods: Forty adult male rats were equally divided into four groups. 1st Control group, while 2nd group were rats receive orally SAE for 12 weeks. 3rd group include rats that injected intramuscularly with Equigan for 12 weeks while 4th group were co-treated group where rats injected with Equigan and SAE for 12 weeks.

Results: Testis sections in Equigan treated rat induced abnormal arrangement of spermatogenesis cycles; disturbance and decrease in the spermatogenic cells, many of a syncytial cells were detected with marked decrease in sperms numbers and moderate depleted and degenerated Leydig cells. Testicular immunohistochemical observation after Equigan intramuscular injections showed a significant increase of the apoptotic protein p53. Co-administration of SAE with Equigan improved the testicular injury and P53 alternations.

Conclusions: SAE could scavenge free radicals and produce beneficial effects against Equigan damage in testis and P53 alternations.