Protective Effects of the Antioxidant Capacity of Curcumin Against Apoptosis on the Expression Level of Apoptosis-Related Caspase-3 Gene in Varicocelized Rats



Izadpanah M¹ ; Navid S² ; Pourahmadi M³ ; Alizadeh R⁴ ; Borhanihaghighi M¹ ; Abbasi M¹
Source: Surgical Chronicles Published:2021

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of curcumin against apoptosis on caspase- 3 apoptosis in experimental varicocele rats. Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: varicocele (V1, V2), treatment (T), sham (Sh), and control (C) groups. Varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein. Serum levels of pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) and Nitric oxide (NO) were evaluated in groups V1 and V2 at the 2nd and 4th months, respectively, after varicocele induction. Two months after varicocele induction, 100 mg/kg Curcumin) dissolved in 2 ml of corn oil (was orally administered to each rat of group T daily for 2 months, and in the Sh group, rats were administered 2 ml of corn oil only. Western blot and ELISA techniques were used to evaluate the various parameters in our study. Results: Our results show that T group, the significantly decreased level of expression of caspase-3, and the high plasma level of Testosterone confirmed that Curcumin had a significant effect on decreasing apoptosis in the treatment group. Conclusions: The anti-oxidant properties of Curcumin may be utilized in adjuvant therapies to reduce varicocele complication. © 2021 Surgical Society of Northern Greece. All rights reserved.