Page 145 - congress

ORAL PRESENTATION / SÖZLÜ SUNUM

The Histopathological Effectiveness of Ellagic Acid
Against Nickel Induced Testicular Damage

Zozan GARİP Nihat YUMUŞAK Çiğdem ÇEBI
1,*
2
3
Füsun TEMAMOĞULLARI Hakim ÇELİK 4
1

1 Harran University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Şanlıurfa, TÜRKIYE
2 Harran University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Şanlıurfa,
TÜRKIYE
3 Harran University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Artificial Insemination
and Artificial Fertilisation, Şanlıurfa, TÜRKIYE
4 Harran University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Department
of Physiology, Şanlıurfa, TÜRKIYE

*Correspound Author: zozangarip@harran.edu.tr

Nickel is a toxic heavy metal widely used in many industries, including the automotive,
electronics and chemical sectors. Nickel toxicity in testicular tissue occurs through oxidative
stress, impaired mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum functions, and activation of
inflammation and apoptosis mechanisms. The aim of this study is to investigate the toxic
effects of nickel sulphate (NiSO₄) on testicular tissue obtained from male rats and the
therapeutic potential of ellagic acid on this toxicity. A total of 24 Wistar albino rats were
divided into four groups: control, NiSO₄, ellagic acid, and NiSO₄ + ellagic acid. Group I
(Control) received daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of physiological saline; Group II
received NiSO₄ (5 mg/kg, i.p.) in 1 mL of physiological saline; Group III received ellagic acid
(30 mg/kg dose orally via gavage); and Group IV received NiSO₄ (5 mg/kg, i.p.) followed by
ellagic acid (30 mg/kg dose orally via gavage). At the end of the experiment, testicular
tissues were removed via necropsy, fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution, stained
with haematoxylin-eosin (H&E), and subjected to histopathological evaluation. Statistical
analysis of differences between groups was performed using One-Way ANOVA and Duncan's
multiple comparison tests. When data did not follow a normal distribution, the Kruskal-Wallis
and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. Germ cell loss, degeneration, necrosis, and
vacuolisation were scored semi-quantitatively. Spermatogenesis was evaluated using the
Johnsen score, a well-known histological index. According to histopathological examination
criteria, statistically significant (P<0.001) differences were determined between groups in
terms of the presence and severity of degeneration, necrosis, germ cell loss, intercellular
separation, hypospermatogenesis, and vacuolisation in the tubule epithelium. In the NiSO₄
group, severe damage to the tubular epithelium, cellular degeneration, vacuolisation, and
marked separation between germ cells, along with severe hypospermatogenesis, were
observed; in the NiSO₄ + ellagic acid group, mild damage to the tubular epithelium,

142