Testicular Histomorphometric Parameters, Reticular Fibres Expression and antioxidant markers Assessment on Testicular Tissue of Methamphetamine-Exposed Wistar Rats Treated with Curcuma longa

Background This study evaluated the effects of Curcuma longa on histomorphometric parameters and reticular fiber expression in the testes of methamphetamine-exposed Wistar rats. Methods Twenty-five adult male rats were divided into five groups: Group 1 (Normal Control) received distilled water; Group 2 (Methamphetamine-Only) was administered 5 mg/kg b.w. methamphetamine; Group 3 received methamphetamine alongside a low dose of Curcuma longa extract (100 mg/kg b.w.); Group 4 was given methamphetamine with a medium dose of Curcuma longa extract (200 mg/kg b.w.); and Group 5 received methamphetamine and a high dose of Curcuma longa extract (400 mg/kg b.w.), all treatments were administered for 28 days. Histomorphometric analysis (seminiferous tubular diameter, germinal epithelial height) was conducted using ImageJ software, while reticular fibers were visualized via Gomori’s methenamine silver staining. Results Methamphetamine exposure significantly increased reticular fiber density around seminiferous tubules and dilated tubular diameter compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Curcuma longa treatment dose-dependently reversed these alterations, with the High Dose Curcuma longa treated Group (400 mg/kg) showing reduced reticular fiber expression and restored tubular diameter (247.35 ± 4.40 μm), comparable to the normal control group. Germinal epithelial heights remained statistically unchanged across groups, suggesting shorter intervention periods may limit observable epithelial recovery. Tissue anti-oxidant analysis revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in the methamphetamine group compared to the control, whereas treatment groups showed significant reductions (p< 0.05) compared to the methamphetamine group. The ameliorative effects of Curcuma longa are attributed to curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, which mitigate oxidative stress and extracellular matrix remodeling induced by methamphetamine. Conclusions Curcuma longa attenuates methamphetamine-induced testicular damage, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic adjunct for drug-associated male infertility. Further clinical studies are warranted to validate these findings in human populations.