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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Molecular and Cellular Reproduction
Volume 13 - 2025 |
doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1489959
Cell Protective Effects of Vitamin C against Oxidative Stress Induced by Ciprofloxacin on Spermatogenesis; Involvement of Cellular Apoptosis
Provisionally accepted- 1 Ajman University, Ajman, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- 2 Fatima College of Health​ Sciences, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- 3 Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt
Ciprofloxacin (CPFX), a second-generation fluoroquinolone, is widely used as an antiinfective agent for genitourinary tract infections due to its efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Although CPFX is considered safe at therapeutic doses, recent evidence indicates specific biological toxicity affecting testicular histology and function. This study investigated the effects of CPFX on testicular structure and function using forty adult male albino rats divided into four groups: control, CPFX-treated, vitamin C-treated, and CPFX combined with vitamin C-treated. After 60 days of treatment, blood samples were collected for hormonal assays, and testicular and epididymal tissues were analyzed using light and electron microscopy. Oxidative stress parameters in testicular tissues were assessed, and statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software.Confocal analysis of the CPFX-treated group revealed significant reductions in germ cell populations within seminiferous tubules, with severe apoptosis and degenerative epithelial changes. Morphometric analysis confirmed reduced tubular diameter and epithelial height, degeneration of spermatogenic cells, and apoptotic cells detached from the basement membrane. CPFX treatment significantly reduced testosterone levels, with variable changes in gonadotropin hormones (LH and FSH). Co-administration of vitamin C with CPFX restored normal testicular morphology, characterized by intact seminiferous tubules, spermatogenic cells, and spermatozoa within the lumina. Formatted: Justified Furthermore, vitamin C supplementation mitigated CPFX-induced oxidative stress by 45 significantly reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhancing antioxidant defenses, 46 including increased glutathione (GSH) content and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity. These 47 findings support the therapeutic potential of vitamin C in reversing CPFX-induced 48 testicular toxicity by reducing oxidative stress and restoring testicular function.
Keywords: 54 55 Spermatogenesis, ciprofloxacin (CPFX), Apoptosis, vitamin C, Oxidative Stress
Received: 02 Sep 2024; Accepted: 24 Jan 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ibrahim, Buabeid, Elmorshedy and Arafa. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Manal Buabeid, Fatima College of Health​ Sciences, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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