Elham Younesi, Layasadat Khorsandi, Amirhesam Keshavarz Zarjani, Abbas Heidari-Moghadam, Mohammad Javad Khodayar, Yousef Asadi-Fard
JBRA Assist. Reprod. 2026; 30 (1):203-212
Received June 30, 2025
Accepted February 20, 2026
Abstract
Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most widely used antitumor drugs globally, particularly in treating various solid tumors. The reproductive system is impacted by CP toxic effects. This study aims to understand how Zingerone (ZG) affects spermatogenesis defects in mice. In the present experimental laboratory study, the 48 male NMRI mice (6 to 8 weeks age, 25 to 30g weight) were treated with CP (7 mg/kg) for 5 days and ZG for 30 days at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg before CP administration. After the treatment period, the testicles were dissected immediately following sacrifice. Morphometric parameters, serum testosterone concentration, histology, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and testis weight have been assessed. To determine levels of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde contents and antioxidant levels were evaluated. CP-induced structural damages enhanced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and reduced testosterone levels and testis weight. CP caused oxidative stress by enhancing malondialdehyde contents in the mouse testicles. ZG dose-dependently reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and reversed the histological changes, testosterone levels, and antioxidant capacity. According to the results of the present study, Pretreatment with ZG can improve testosterone production by preventing apoptosis and oxidative stress in the testicles of mice that have undergone CP intoxication.