Ameliorating potential and fertility enhancing activities of nutritional dietary supplementation of D-Ribose –l-Cysteine in cisplatin induced oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and seminiferous epithelium degeneration in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin (CN) is considered as a cytotoxic agent and DNA synthesis inhibitor. D-Ribose-l-Cysteine (DRLC) is an active ingredient of riboceine, help cells to produce glutathione on body demand. AIM: Current study focused on ameliorating potential and fertility enhancing activities of D-Ribose–l-Cysteine in cisplatin induced oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and seminiferous epithelium degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Sixty (60) male rats randomized into six groups of ten (n = 10) rats each. Group A (control) received 2.0 ml distilled water, group B received single dose of 8 mg/kg bwt CN, group C received 30 mg/kg bwt DRLC, group D received single dose of 8 mg/kg CN follow by 30 mg/kg bwt DRLC, group E received single dose of 8 mg/kg CN and vitamin C, group F received single dose of 8 mg/kg cisplatin follow by DRLC + Vit.C for 56 days. Parameters tested include: Sperm parameters, testosterone (TT), luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating Hormone, (FSH), Prolactin, and testicular 17β-HSD activity, Blood hydroperoxide (BHP), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH) and Catalase (CAT), testicular histology and fertility test. RESULTS: Cisplatin significantly reduced testicular volume, body weight, sperm quality, fertility indices, TT, FSH, LH, 17β-HSD, SOD, GSH, CAT, diameter and cross-sectional area of seminiferous tubules, spermatogenesis score. And elevate prolactin, testicular injury score, BHP and MDA compared with control group. Cisplatin only treated rats showed degenerated seminiferous epithelium with empty lumen. Intervention of D-Ribose-Cysteine ameliorated toxic impacts of CN on testis and improved the male fertility. CONCLUSION: D-Ribose-l-Cysteine therefore, preserves testicular integrity and functions thereby, preventing the deleterious impact of CN.