POLYSTYRENE NANOPARTICLES' IMPACT ON LIPID PROFILE-TESTOSTERONE RELATIONSHIP IN TESTICULAR TOXICITY: NIGELLA SATIVA RESTORATION

The study investigated the alteration inflicted by PS-NP on the lipid profile and its association with testosterone release, as well as the potential of Nigella sativa oil, a natural and readily accessible medicine, to mitigate this damage. In this regard, twenty male rats were randomly assigned into four groups as follows: the control group, the NSO group (500 mg/kg body weight of organic Nigella sativa oil), the PS-NP group (10 mg/kg body weight of polystyrene nanoparticles), and the NSO+PSNP group (500 mg/kg body weight of Nigella sativa oil, followed by 10 mg/kg body weight of polystyrene nanoparticles). Rats received oral doses by gavage three times each week for 60 days. The PSNP group exhibited increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, coupled with decreased HDL and testosterone levels, and it showed cytoplasmic vacuolation, degeneration of spermatogenic cells, and vascular congestion in testicular tissue. Conversely, the group NSO+PSNP exhibited reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels, with normal HDL and testosterone levels. The testicular tissue showed minor pathological alterations, including slightly congested blood vessels. In conclusion, Nigella sativa oil showed substantial effectiveness in mitigating the detrimental effects induced by PS-NP on the male hormone connected with lipid metabolic alteration.