Impaired spermatogenesis and
male infertility are common consequences of
chemotherapy drugs used in patients with
testicular cancer. The present study investigated the effects of
sodium alginate (NaAL) on testicular toxicity caused by
bleomycin,
etoposide, and
cisplatin (BEP). Rats in group 1 received
normal saline, while groups 2 and 3 were treated with 25 and 50 mg/kg of NaAL, respectively. Group 4 was treated with a 21-day cycle of BEP (0.5 mg/kg
bleomycin, 5 mg/kg
etoposide, and 1 mg/kg
cisplatin), and groups 5 and 6 received BEP regimen plus 25 and 50 mg/kg of NaAL, respectively. Then, sperm parameters,
testosterone levels, testicular histopathology and stereological parameters, testicular levels of
malondialdehyde (MDA),
nitric oxide (NO), and total
antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the expression of apoptosis-associated genes including Bcl2, Bax, Caspase3, p53, and TNF-α were evaluated. Our findings revealed that NaAL improved sperm parameters,
testosterone levels, histopathology, and stereology parameters in BEP-administrated rats. NaAL also improved testis
antioxidant status by enhancing TAC and ameliorating MDA and NO. Further, modifications to the expression of Bcl2, Bax, Caspase3, p53, and TNF-α suggested that NaAL alleviated BEP-induced apoptosis and
inflammation. Collectively, NaAL protects rats' testes against BEP-evoked toxicity damage through the modulation of nitro-oxidative stress, apoptosis, and
inflammation.