PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF LACTOFERRIN AGAINST DORORUBICIN TOXICITY ON MAIN GONAD OF RAT

Background & Aims: Doxorubicin has been widely used to treat solid tumors and blood malignancies, but its toxicity has limited its application. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of lactoferrin against doxorubicin toxicity on the main gonad of rats. Materials & Methods: 24 Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Control group received physiological saline intraperitoneally and then orally, the second group received doxorubicin intraperitoneally, the third group received intraperitoneal doxorubicin, oral lactoferrin four hours after drug administration, and the fourth group received oral lactoferrin. The administration was performed weekly. After dissection, the testes of the animal were studied after tissue passage and staining. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in mean diameter of seminiferous tubules between the control and doxorubicin groups and between the control and doxorubicin + lactoferrin groups (p≤0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference in mean diameter of seminiferous tubules between lactoferrin group and doxorubicin and doxorubicin + lactoferrin groups (p≤0.05). The mean difference between doxorubicin and doxorubicin + lactoferrin groups was also statistically significant (p≤0.05). There was a significant difference between the mean thickness of germinal epithelium between the control and doxorubicin groups and between the control and doxorubicin + lactoferrin groups (p≤0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference between lactoferrin group and doxorubicin and doxorubicin + lactoferrin groups (p≤0.05). Moreover, lactoferrin co-treatment led to a considerable increase of PCNA- and HSP70-positive cells compared to the doxorubicin-only group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Lactoferrin can be used to reduce the side effects of doxorubicin on reproductive organs such as the testis.