Histomorphological response of D-ribose L-cysteine to ketamine-induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats

Graphical Abstract Abstract Background This study aims to study the histomorphological response of d-ribose-l-cysteine (DRLC) to ketamine-induced testicular damage in adult male Wistar rats. Methods A total of 20 adult male Wistar rats were used for this experiment. The animals were randomly divided into four groups (A–D) (n = 5). Group A served as the control, receiving distilled water as placebo; animals in group B were administered with 50 mg/kg body weight (bw) of ketamine only; animals in group C were administered with 50 mg/kg bw of ketamine and 30 mg/kg bw of DRLC; animals in group D were administered with 30 mg/kg bw of DRLC only. At the end of the experiment, blood was taken from the heart via cardiac puncture and stored, semen was collected from the caudal epididymis for immediate sperm analysis, while the testes were excised and preserved for histological examination and biochemical analysis. Results The results showed abnormalities marked by a significant decrease in the weights, sperm parameters, as well as antioxidants, serum hormonal levels and abnormal testicular microarchitecture in the rats as a result of ketamine treatment. However, DRLC exhibits significant quenching effects and attenuating activities on the ketamine-induced abnormalities by increasing the rats' weights, restoring the sperm parameters, as well as increasing the antioxidants and serum hormonal levels with restored testicular histoarchitecture. Conclusion DRLC in the current study attenuated the toxic effects of ketamine on the testes; therefore, it could be used as adjuvant therapy for reproductive toxicant-induced testicular toxicity due to its potent antioxidant property. Significance statement The testis is a vital secreting organ that produces and stores spermatozoa and is crucial for producing male sexual hormones and is thus the main target of infertility when overdoses of chemicals and toxins are introduced to it. In view of the facts above, studies of the potential of chemicals like ketamine to induce testicular toxicity are important as well as the methods aimed at mitigating this effect. Various studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of DRLC in subsiding different chronic health conditions, but there is no published literature on the effects of DRLC in ketamine-induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Hence we present this study.