Histological and histopathological studies on the protective role of Echinacea purpurea extract after intra-testicular injection of magnetic nanoparticles in male albino rats

Abstract

Local intra-testicular injection for drug release is an important methodology for testicular diseases therapy. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are new nanomaterials which have several medical applications. This study aimed at investigating the time-dependent toxicity of MNPs after intra-testicular injection, and the protective effect of Echinacea purpurea (EP) extract as antioxidant and immune cells activator. To investigate the protective role of EP extract against MNPs toxicity in testicular tissues, EP extract was simultaneously administrated with MNPs. The intra-testicular injection of MNPs caused spermatogenic apoptosis, cellular necrosis, and interstitial fibrosis. Also, MNPs were found freely in the interstitial area attached to fiber bundles and to lamina propria of the seminiferous tubules. Simultaneous EP extract administration with MNPs injection for 11 wk reduced MNPs toxicity, compared to MNPs only. Also, most MNPs were co-localized in some interstitial cells/macrophages after this EP extract simultaneous administration. In this regard, MNPs were found as groups aggregated in lysosomal vacuoles of macrophages after EP extract administration. In the case of MNPs only injection, MNPs were found freely outside interstitial cells, attached to fiber bundles and surrounding myoid cells of seminiferous tubules. To conclude the simultaneous administration of EP extract/MNPs injection changed both cellular and subcellular biodistribution of MNPs in the testicular tissues. Our present findings indicate a prominent protective role for EP extract as an antioxidant and immune activator against MNPs intra-testicular injection-induced toxicity and may promise a new strategy for testicular disease therapies using nanomaterials.

Keywords:

• Biodistribution
• Echinacea purpurea extract
• magnetic nanoparticles
• testis
• toxicity