Short-Term Boric Acid Treatment Attenuates Glyphosate-Induced Testicular Toxicity by Restoring Redox and Hormonal Homeostasis

Glyphosate (GLY) is a widely used herbicide known to exert toxic effects on the male reproductive system. Boric acid (BA), possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been investigated for its potential protective effects against oxidative damage in various biological systems. In this study, the shielding effect of boric acid in counteracting testicular impairment caused by glyphosate was assessed. Random allocation of male rats was performed to establish four experimental groups. Control, BA, GLY, and BA+ GLY. After the treatment phase, measurements of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone were conducted to explore potential alterations in endocrine function. Testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were examined by ELISA, while the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-was quantified using RT-PCR. Inflammatory cytokines including, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), were evaluated by Western blot, and Caspase-3 immunoreactivity was examined histopathologically. GLY exposure significantly increased MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels while reducing IL-10, GSH, antioxidant enzyme expression, and FSH,LH, and testosterone concentrations. Co-administration of BA restored antioxidant balance, normalized hormonal levels, decreased TNF-α and IL-1β expression, elevated IL-10, and mitigated apoptosis. These results indicate that BA protects the testes from GLY-induced impairment by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and apoptotic cascades.