Histopathological effects of lactic acid bacteria enriched white soft cheese in testes of albino rats

Soft cheeses provide an ideal matrix for bacterial growth, serving as a medium for inoculating starter microorganisms like Lactobacillus. This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical effects of white soft cheese inoculated with Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Streptococcus thermophilus S3855 on male reproductive health in albino rats. Forty male Albino rats, divided into five isolated groups, and fed white soft cheese prepared with different bacterial strains or non-inoculated cheese (control) for 28 days. The prepared cheese was pickled for four weeks at refrigerator temperature and analyzed for chemical and microbiological properties at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Total solids decreased over time, while protein-to-dry matter ratios increased across all treatments. Biochemically, all treated groups showed reduced serum total cholesterol, with the most significant triglyceride reduction in group V. Histopathological analysis revealed notable structural damage in testicular tissue, including degeneration of seminiferous tubules, vascular abnormalities, and a marked decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter and spermatogenic cell counts. Johnsen-like scores were significantly lower, particularly in groups III, IV, and V, indicating impaired spermatogenesis compared with the normal control. Immunohistochemically, strong Bax expression was observed in all treated groups, indicating enhanced apoptotic activity. Additionally, wide spread Plexin-B1 expression was also detected in all treated groups. These findings indicate that probiotic-enriched soft cheese may negatively affect male reproductive health, possibly through apoptosis-mediated pathways.