Zinc loaded whey protein nanoparticles mitigate the oxidative stress and modulate antioxidative gene expression in testicular tissues in rats

This study aimed to utilize whey protein nanoparticles (WPNPs) and zinc (Zn) loaded WPNPs protect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced testicular damage in rats. Zn was on at three levels release determined different time intervals. Seventy male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups treated orally for weeks as follows: the control group, CCl -treated group (0.5 ml/100 g b.w) twice a week, plus WPNPs-treated (300 mg/kg b.w), citrate-treated (50 with Zn-WPNPs formulations. Blood tissue samples collected assays. Animals showed significant decrease body weight relative of testis, testosterone level, antioxidant enzymes activity mRNA expression Nrf2, HO-1 NQO1 increased Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) Keep1 induced histological changes testis. alone, alone or -induced damage. These effects more pronounced received fabrication low level. concluded that could reduce oxidative stress via mechanisms mainly regulation Nrf2-Keap1 antioxidative signaling pathway.