Protective effects of wheat sprout extract on acrylamide-induced toxicity in testis, prostate gland and sperm parameters of rats

Abstract

Acrylamide (ACR) is a harmful compound that forms in food cooked at high temperatures, influenced by food type, preparation methods, temperature, and cooking time. Recent studies have indicated that ACR adversely affects male reproductive system and sperm health, primarily through oxidative stress. Wheat sprout (WS) is a unique medicinal plant that contains a high number of antioxidants. The main objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of WS treatment on histological, biochemical and immunohistochemical changes in the testis and prostate as well as on the sperm parameters of rats exposed to ACR. Twenty adult male rats were split into four groups. One group received 1 mL normal saline, another group received 50 mg/kg ACR, third group received 200 mg/kg WS and fourth group received a combination of ACR (50 mg/kg) and WS (200 mg/kg). After 21 days, the epididymis was immediately examined for assessment of sperm. The prostate and left testis were placed in 10% formalin for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. The right testes were removed to measure testosterone, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels. ACR consumption significantly decreased sperm count, viability, motility, and DNA fragmentation, whereas WS intake significantly improved these sperm parameters (p < 0.05). Compared with ACR, WS enhanced spermatogenesis indices, including TDI- and SI-positive seminiferous tubules, Johnson score, testis weight, body weight, and relative weight (p < 0.05). Furthermore, WS significantly reduced p53 expression and increased Bcl-2 expression, thereby counteracting ACR-induced apoptosis. The findings suggest that WS may effectively enhance and restore the histomorphometric, cellular, and hormonal changes in the male reproductive system caused by ACR.