the protective effect of chicoric acid on the mancozeb-induced male reproductive damage in mice

Background and aim: this study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of chicoric acid (ca) on mancozeb-induced male reproductive damage in mice. methods: 65 nmri male mice were randomly divided into 7 groups (n=8); 1: control group, 2: mzb–induced toxicity 3: mzb+ atropine (0.25 mg/kg daily), groups 4, 5, and 6: mzb+25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of ca respectively. 7: ca (100 mg). the mice were sacrificed thirty-five days later and blood and testis samples were obtained. testosterone levels, sperm parameters, protamine deficiency, and sperm chromatin dispersion (scd) were used to evaluate the reproductive system function. results: the sperm count and sperm viability decreased in the mzb-intoxicated group; the sperm dna fragmentation and protamine deficiency increased in this group. head and neck deformity decreased in mzb+ ca groups (p<0.05). in mzb+ ca groups, the sperm motility type a, and b increased than the mzb group, abnormal sperm morphology within 100 mg/kg ca groups was less than 50 and 25 mg/kg. the groups pretreated with ca showed a significant increase in leydig cells. conclusion: the results revealed that chicoric acid has a protective effect on testis tissue damage induced by mzb. so, this is a promising therapeutic choice for the treatment of male infertility.