Protective roles of gallic acid and lycopene against 4-nonylphenol induced testicular damage in SD rats.

This article focuses on evaluating the protective effects of lycopene (LC) and gallic acid (GA) against testicular toxicity induced by 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), an endocrine disruptor known to cause oxidative stress, apoptosis, and histopathological damage in male reproductive tissues. In a 28-day rat model, oral administration of 4-NP (125 mg/kg body weight/day) significantly impaired testicular histology, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH), sperm viability and morphology, and reduced serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Supplementation with LC (10 mg/kg/day) or GA (50 mg/kg/day) ameliorated these adverse effects by reducing oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde), apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cells), and histopathological lesions, thereby preserving testicular structure and function. Both antioxidants demonstrated comparable efficacy in mitigating 4-NP-induced reproductive toxicity, suggesting their potential as cost-effective protective agents against environmental endocrine disruptors.