Amelioration and Immuno-modulation by Ashwagandha on Wi-fi Induced Oxidative Stress in Regulating Reproduction Via Estrogen Receptor Alpha in Male Japanese Quail.

As global change threatens avian biodiversity, understanding species responses to environmental perturbations due to radiation emitted by enormous increase in the application of wireless communication is very urgent. The study investigates the effect of MW radiation on redox balance, stress level, male fertility and the efficacy of Withania somnifera (WS) root extract (100 mg/kg body weight) orally administered in 8 weeks old mature male Japanese quail exposed to 2.4 GHz MW radiation for 2 h/day for 30 days with power density = 0.1264 mw/cm² and SAR = 0.9978 W/Kg. Wi-fi exposure induces a decrease in testicular weight, volume, density and gonado-somatic index (GSI) while Ashwagandha increases them. Oxidative stress parameters increased and activity of SOD, catalase, GSH was reduced in testes of exposed quail while Ashwagandha treatment reinstates the redox balance. Exposure to Wi-fi alters quail reproduction by increase in corticosterone and decreased testosterone with reduced expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in testis. Wi-fi exposure increases IL1β and reduces IL10 in testis. IL-1β inhibits testicular cell function and promotes apoptosis by increasing NF-κB and decreasing sperm count in exposed quails. Ashwagandha increases expression of ERα, sperm count and immunity in quail testis. Further, decrease in IL1β, NF-κB and increase in IL-10 after administration of Ashwagandha in Wi-fi exposed quail prevents inflammatory damages and enhances gonadal function. Thus, exposure to Wi-fi increases oxidative stress, activates apoptosis, modulates immunity in testis while Ashwagandha reverses them via enhanced ERα expression, increase in sperm count thereby enhancing fertility in male Japanese quail.