Morphological Study of Gentamicin-Induced Testicular Toxicity and Protective Effects of Zinc in Adult Albino Mice

Background: One of the drugs of the amino glycoside group, known adverse effects are nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and neuromuscular paralysis. Zinc, a transitional metal and best source is meat, fish, whole grain cereals, and dairy products. Zinc protects tissues against free radicals and oxidative stress. Used in fertility, pneumonia, osteoporosis, wound healing, regulating immune function, and decreased risk of senile chronic diseases with no significant side effects. Objective: Gentamicin effects on testicular structure and sperm parameters in mice. Zinc reversal effects are the focus of the current study. Material and Methods: An experimental animal-based study done in Veterinary Research Institute Peshawar, for 6 months from June 2019 to December 2019. Fifteen albino mice were collected and sorted into groups. B-1, B-2, C-1 and C-2 were experimental groups, A-1 was control group. Zinc was administered as 1-2mg/kg orally, whereas Gentamicin was administered in two dosages of 50mg/kg intraperitoneally and 75mg/kg. Mice were sacrificed after 2 weeks. Testis was collected, and kept in formalin; slides were made and observed through the light microscope. Results: Gentamicin-induced structural alterations in experimental groups were sloughing, vacuolation, gaps formation in the somniferous epithelium, atrophic changes, nuclear pyknosis, indicated by tubular shrinkage in a few tubules, decreased somniferous tubules and somniferous epithelium. Zinc nullified these effects when used simultaneously with Gentamicin. Conclusion: The study evaluated the impact of Gentamicin on the health outcomes of the participants. Additionally, oral supplementation of zinc at 1-2 mg/kg provided a crucial variable that allowed researchers to explore potential protective effects against Gentamicin-induced toxicity. The methodologies reveal pharmacological interactions, and emphasize dosage and administration routes in experimental design, paving the way for future research to improve therapeutic strategies and health outcomes.