Gallic acid mitigates cadmium-induced reproductive damage: Effects on sperm, antioxidants, and apoptosis in mice
Alaee S. Derakhshan Z. Koohpeyma F. Shokri S. Talaie A. Kamyab H.
December 2025Elsevier GmbH
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
2025#92
Cadmium is a well-known reproductive toxicant found in many industrial wastes. The gallic acid impact on the recovery of reproductive ability of mice exposed to cadmium was investigated. The experiment involved six groups of male mice, designated as Groups 1 through 6, each receiving specific treatments: Group 1 received distilled water, Group 2 received water containing gallic acid with a concentration of 50 mg/kg, Group 3 received water containing gallic acid with a concentration 100 mg/kg, Group 4 was treated with water containing cadmium with a concentration of 1.2 mg/kg, Group 5 received water containing cadmium and gallic acid with concentrations of 1.2 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively, and finally Group 6 received water containing 1.2 and 100 mg/kg of cadmium and gallic acid, respectively. The mices blood samples were collected after finishing the treatment stage to evaluate testosterone levels, and the testes were excised for stereological analysis and assessment of antioxidant and apoptotic marker expression. Sperm samples extracted from the epididymis were analyzed for quantity, morphology, motility, viability, maturation, and DNA fragmentation. Results indicated significant declines in all measured parameters in mice exposed to cadmium. Additionally, high doses of gallic acid adversely affected some fertility parameters in normal mice. In cadmium-exposed mice, mRNA expression of antioxidants (Gpx1 , Cat , and Sod1) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2l1) genes was significantly reduced, while the expression of proapoptotic (Caspase3 and Bax) genes increased. Notably, 50 mg/kg of gallic acid improved all fertility parameters in these mice. It is suggested that the high concentration of antioxidants can control oxidative stress, thereby disrupting the normal physiological level of reactive oxygen species in the mices cells. Therefore, gallic acid at the appropriate dose improves fertility parameters in mice exposed to cadmium. The results showed that the dose of 50 mg/kg of gallic acid can effectively mitigate the cadmium detrimental impacts on the health of the vital organs of the male mice reproductive system. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic application of gallic acid in combating reproductive toxicity induced by cadmium, highlighting the importance of dosage in achieving beneficial outcomes.
Antioxidants , Apoptosis , Cadmium , Gallic acid , Spermatozoa
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Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Plant Design Department, Pars Abnoos Sanat Consulting Engineering Company, Shiraz, Iran
Department of Natural Sciences, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, 030012, Kazakhstan
Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 600077, India
Universidad UTE, Quito, 170527, Ecuador
The KU-KIST Graduate School of Energy and Environment, Korea University, 145 Anam-Ro, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
Department of Reproductive Biology
Stem Cells Technology Research Center
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center
School of Medical Sciences
Plant Design Department
Department of Natural Sciences
Department of Biomaterials
Universidad UTE
The KU-KIST Graduate School of Energy and Environment
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