Effect of quercetin on gene expression of male hormone in adult Wistar rats exposure to the oxidative stress by lead acetate

The study was aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of plant source quercetin extracted in an improvement of reproductive system efficiency of adult males rats exposed to the oxidative stress by lead acetate. Forty males Wistar rats (6 months old, and 175±10gm weight) were divided randomly into four equal groups and treated for 60 days as follows: The first group (C) was given drinking water as a control group. Second group (T1) was given quercetin (300 mg/kg/ B.W) orally. Third group (T2) given lead acetate (10 mg/kg/ B.W) orally, and the fourth group (T3) was given lead acetate (10mg/kg/B.W) orally for 30 days then given quercetin (300mg/kg/B.W) for 30 days. All animals were sacrificed at the end of experiment and samples of testis were taken to study gene expression for CYP11A1 which responsible for testosterone hormone production, LH receptor gene which responsible for production ICSH receptors and LH beta-subunit gene which responsible for ICSH production. Results showed there was a significant increase (p≤0.05) in fold change of gene expression levels of (CYP11A1, LH beta-subunit gene, and LHr gene) in T1 group compared with control. Also, there was a significant decrease (p≤0.05) in fold change of gene expression levels of (CYP11A1) in T2 in compared with control. While the fold changes of gene expression levels of LH beta-subunit gene and LHr gene do not show significant differences between C and T2 groups. Also, there was a significant increase (p≤0.05) in fold change of gene expression levels of (CYP11A1, LH beta-subunit gene, and LHr gene) in T3 compared with T2. It could be concluded that quercetin causes upregulation to gene expression of (CYP11A1) gene, LH beta subunit gene, and LH receptor gene (LHr) in adult males Wistar rats exposed to the oxidative stress by lead acetate