Protective Effects of Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) Extract Against Apoptosis in Lead Acetate-Induced Mice Testicular Damage.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the protective effects of Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum Cav) extract on lead acetate-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis in male mice. METHODS: A post-test-only control group experimental study was conducted on Balb/c mice. Thirty-five male mice 12 weeks old were randomly divided into 5 groups: two control groups (K-, K+) and three treatment groups (P1, P2, P3). The K- received distilled water, and the K+ received 75 mg/kg lead acetate. The P1, P2, and P3 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of Tamarillo crude extracts (TCE), respectively for 35 days, and on the fourth day, were given lead acetate 75 mg/kg one hour after the TCE administration by gavage tube. The effect of TCE against lead-induced oxidative stress in mice was determined by the expression of mouse testicular apoptosis using terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, the expression of Caspase-3, and SOD. RESULTS: TCE at the dose of 400 mg/kg showed comparable apoptosis and SOD expression to the negative control group (K-). Notably, the level of Caspase-3 among treatment groups showed lower expression than the K- group despite the injection of lead acetate. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that TCE exhibits antioxidant activity and protects the reproductive system by inhibiting lead acetate to induce oxidative damage and testicular damage.