الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Exposure of testicular tissue to cadmium or high temperature results in severe testicular damage likely through stimulating oxidative stress. This study aimed to 1) investigate the combined effect of thermal stress and cadmium exposure on testicular function, and 2) evaluate the protective role of curcumin on oxidative stress-induced testicular damage. To achieve these aims, the effect of curcumin was investigated under oxidative stress condition in relation to 1) the fertilizing capacity of rat spermatozoa, 2) biochemical antioxidant enzyme system, and 3) the status of spermatogenesis via histopathological examination. Exposure of rats to oxidative stress caused a significant decrease in testicular weight, spermatozoa with high incidence of abnormal morphology and reduced motility. Importantly, in contrast to the effect of curcumin under normal condition, administration of curcumin under oxidative stress condition significantly improved the weight of rat testes, percentages of spermatozoa with normal morphology and motility. Moreover, exposure of rats to oxidative stress resulted in pronounced increase in testicular lipid peroxidation (MDA, CAT and GST and the decrease of SOD). Importantly, administration of curcumin under oxidative stress condition could attenuate the oxidative stress and testicular lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, histopathological examination revealed that exposure of rats to oxidative stress induces degeneration of seminiferous tubules with complete arrest of spermatogenesis. On the other hand, administration of curcumin to rats under oxidative stress condition significantly improved the spermatogenic status of seminiferous tubules. from this study we can conclude that 1) exposure of rat testes to cadmium and heat stress resulted in oxidative stress-induced testicular damage and decreased sperm quality, and 2) curcumin has an ameliorating effect on testicular toxicity induced by oxidative stress in rats.