Abstract

*** This article has been retracted***

Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used medication in chemotherapy and can cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can affect testicular functions by reducing the sperm motility and concentration, changing the sperm morphology, and increasing deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation in sperm. Ginger is one of the most widely used spices in various foods and is used as an herbal medicine in many countries due to its antioxidant effects. We aim to study the protective effects of ginger against CP-induced testicular toxicity in rats.
Methods: The study was performed on 30 male albino rats with body weights of 300-350 g. The animals were divided into the following three groups (10/cage): Group 1 (control, untreated group), Group 2 (CP group, received a single dose of CP at 100 mg kg−1 of BW intraperitoneally), and Group 3 (CP + ginger, received ginger extract orally at 500 mg/kg for 35 days after CP injection). The morphological and histological structures of the testes were compared in the different groups of rats.
Results: The CP-treated group showed a disorganized germinal epithelium compared with those of the controls. The CP + ginger-treated group showed a significant recovery of the organization of the germinal epithelium and the cellular attachments. Caspase-3-positive cells were significantly higher in the CP group and had remarkably lower levels in the CP + ginger-treated group. A reduction in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the destruction of connective tissue were observed in the CP-treated group; these changes were improved in the CP + ginger-treated group.
Conclusion: Ginger extract can protect reproductive functions against CP-induced toxicity in rats.

Key words: Ginger extract, antioxidant, cyclophosphamide, rat, testes