The Effect of Thyme Honey on the Histopathological Changes of the Testis in Relation to the Side Effects of Valproic Acid in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Introduction. Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used drug in the treatment of emotional and nervous depression, mental imbalances, epilepsy, and control of bipolar disorders. Despite its therapeutic effects, VPA has toxic effects on male reproduction. The testis is an organ sensitive to oxidative stress. On the other hand, thyme honey contains antioxidant compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of thyme honey on the histopathological changes of the testis in relation to the side effects of VPA in adult male Wistar rats. Methods. In this study, 48 Wistar rats were used, which were randomly divided into equal eight groups and received their desired substances. Including the control group, Th1, Th2, and Th3 groups receiving 1, 2, and 3 g/kg of thyme honey, respectively, VPA (500 mg/kg), VPA + Th1 (500 mg/kg of VPA + 1 g/kg of thyme honey), VPA + Th2 (500 mg/kg of VPA + 2 g/kg of thyme honey), and VPA + Th3 (500 mg/kg of VPA + 3 g/kg of thyme honey). After 60 days, evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and histological studies of hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’s trichrome staining were performed. Results. The use of thyme honey significantly improved some parameters related to spermatogenesis, and in addition, it increased sperm production in the honey groups. In addition, the changes in MDA levels in the groups have shown a decrease in the amount of lipid peroxidation in the VPA + Th2 group. The amount of TAC also increased after increasing the dose of thyme honey. Conclusion. Based on the results of this study, it seems that thyme honey has been able to reduce the side effects of VPA to some extent due to its high percentage of antioxidants.