Quercetin Inhibits ROS-p53-Bax-caspase-3 Axis of Apoptosis and Augments Gonadotropin and Testicular Hormones in Chronic Unpredictable Stress-Induced Testis Injury

A large body of evidence supports the protective role flavonol antioxidant compound quercetin in mammals. We tested hypothesis that can protect against hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis defect like a reduction gonadotropins and testicular hormones abnormal semen analysis induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS), possibly via downregulation oxidative (ROS) p53-Bax-caspase-3 pathways. Rats were either exposed to variety stressors daily before being sacrificed after 3 weeks (model group) or treated with (50 mg/kg weight/day) at same time CUS (treated group). Harvested tissues stained basic histological staining, testis homogenates assayed for tumor suppressor p53, apoptosis regulator Bax, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), caspase-3, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD). In addition, harvested epididymis used assess analysis, blood samples hormone testosterone, adrenal cortex corticosterone, anterior pituitary gonadotropins, follicular stimulating (FSH) luteinizing (LH). profound damage significantly (p<0.05) MDA, which inhibited except corticosterone. Whereas, increased FSH, LH, Bcl-2, GPx, SOD levels CUS. oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, protected quercetin. Thus, Quercetin protects CUS-induced HPG defects rats, is associated inhibition ROS-p53-Bax-caspase-3 axis.