Protective effect of orange and grapefruit peel extracts against testicular toxicity induced by sulfasalazine in male albino rats

Introduction Sulfasalazine is a drug commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. However, the histological changes in the testes are not well defined. Also, orange and grapefruit peels are powerful antioxidants that have come into use recently for the treatment of infertility. Aim This study aimed to elucidate the histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural changes in the testes after sulfasalazine treatment and evaluate the possible protective role of orange and grapefruit peel extracts. Materials and methods This study included 48 adult male albino rats divided into six equal groups: the control group (group I); the orange peel extract group (group II); the grapefruit peel extract group (group III); the sulfasalazine group (group IV); the sulfasalazine and orange peel extract group (group V); and the sulfasalazine and grapefruit peel extract group (group VI). At the end of the experiment (2 weeks), all animals were sacrificed and their testes were excised. Paraffin sections were prepared and stained with H E and immunohistochemical staining was performed for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Other pieces of the testis were used for ultrastructural study. Results Sulfasalazine was shown to affect the testes. T he changes were in the form of irregular degenerated seminiferous tubules, germ cells, decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen, ultrastructural alterations of spermatogenic cells, and thickened basement membranes. These changes were present in some tubules in the testes. Treatment with orange or grapefruit peel extracts proved to improve these changes. Conclusion Sulfasalazine has deleterious effects on the structure of the testes and supplementation with orange or grapefruit peel extracts with sulfasalazine can overcome the toxicity of sulfasalazine on the testis and protect testicular tissue from the detrimental effects of sulfasalazine.