Evaluation of sex steroid hormones and reproductive irregularities in diethyl phthalate-exposed premature mice: modulatory effect of raw honey against potential anomalies

Phthalates, plasticizing chemicals, are top-rated environmental contaminants. Diethyl phthalate (DEP), a chief member of this family, was declared potent endocrine disruptor and carcinogen in animals humans. The current study designed to explore the probable reproductive damage induced by DEP therapeutic efficacy raw honey male albino mice. Four-week-old 50 mice were randomized equally five groups, as control (C) received 0.1 ml distilled water; vehicle (VC) corn oil (0.1 ml/mouse); (3mg/g/BW) dissolved oil; (HC) administered with (0.2 mg/g/day); plus (P+H) (3mg 0.2 mg/g/BW/day respectively). Mice treated through oral gavage for 54 days routinely, acclimatized 6 days, dissected. In first instance, antioxidant potential total phenolic contents (TPC) analyzed ferric reducing power (FRAP) assay Folin-Ciocalteu confirm capacity honey. morphological, morphometric, histological, micrometric, sperm count, hormonal analyses, test tissue homogenates conducted using tissues (testis, epididymis) blood samples exposed have significant increase body weight, LH level, seminiferous tubule lumen diameter decrease gonado-somatic index, testosterone diameter. Additionally, histopathology testes showed interstitial space dilations, exfoliations, Leydig cell atrophy, germ degenerations, spermatid retention DEP-exposed sections. However, concomitant use had shown improvement histopathological lesions, steroid hormone levels, healthy count. By these results, it is concluded that possessed can efficiently protect DEP-induced anomalies