Histological protective effect of wheat germ oil versus zinc on fluoxetine –damaged testes in albino rats

Background: Fluoxetine is anti-depressive drug which induces oxidative stress in different organs, Wheat germ oil and zinc have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.Aim: to assess the histological effect of wheat germ oil (WGO) versus zinc on fluoxetine induced testicular injury in albino rats.Materials & Methodes: forty male albino rats were divided into four equal groups: group I (Control); group II: were received 10 mg/kg fluoxetine for 28 days; group III: administered fluoxetine + WGO at dose of 68.75 mg/kg; group IV: were received fluoxetine + zinc aspartate at dose of 30 mg/kg. samples of the testes were exposed to histological ,ultrastructural and immunostaining examination.Results: fluoxetine significantly altered testicular structure. The seminefrous tubules were widely separated with significant decrease in their diameter. Separation of basal compartment of seminefrous tubules from adluminal compartment with cellular loss. This was confirmed by significant increase in Bax immunostaining. Widening of interstitial space with collagen fiber deposition was noticed. There was improvement of all histological aspects in WGO and zinc treated groups. This improvement was more evident in WGO treated group. The results were confirmed by significant increase in tubular diameter with more or less normal epithelial lining .Significant decrease in Bax immunoreaction was detected .Interstial tissue was normal .These data conclude that WGO augments the protection against fluoxetine induced testicular damage.Conclusion: fluoxetine induced oxidative damage in rat testis. We concluded that both WGO and zinc have protective role in ameliorating fluoxetine -associated testicular injury. However, WGO has better effects on all aspects.