Protective role of omega-3 fatty acids against energy drink–induced structural changes in the testes of adult albino Wistar rats

Qanbar Abbas Naqvi; Syeda Abeer Fatima; Areiba Haider

doi:10.53685/jshmdc.v6i2.384

Authors

Qanbar Abbas Naqvi Department of Anatomy, Narowal Medical College, Narowal, Pakistan
Syeda Abeer Fatima Department of Physiology, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Areiba Haider Department of Anatomy, Narowal Medical College, Narowal, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53685/jshmdc.v6i2.384

Keywords:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Energy Drinks, Testis, Histology, Sertoli Cells, Fibrosis, Interstitial

Abstract

Background: Energy drinks (EDs) are widely consumed beverages that enhance alertness and performance but may cause adverse histological and structural testicular changes in males. Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3 FA) possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may protect against such tissue damage.

Objective: To evaluate the protective role of omega-3 FA against energy drink-induced histological and morphological changes in the testes of adult male albino Wistar rats.

Methods: This experimental study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, and Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI), Lahore, Pakistan, for 12 weeks from June 1 to August 31, 2020. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=10 each). Group A (Control) received distilled water, Group B (ED) received ED (120 mg/kg body weight), and Group C (ED+ Omega-3 FA) received ED (120 mg/kg) plus omega-3 FA (300 mg/kg) orally for 40 days simultaneously. On day 41, rats were sacrificed, and testes were dissected, fixed, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome for histological evaluation. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test using SPSS version 25, with a p-value ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Sertoli cell vacuolization was observed in 70% of animals in Group B (ED), 20% in Group C (ED + Omega-3 FA), and was absent in the control group (Group A) (p = 0.002). Interstitial fibrosis occurred in 70% of Group B and 30% of Group C, with no cases in Group A (p = 0.004). Abnormal sperm head morphology was most frequent in Group B (80%), compared to 30% in Group C and 10% in Group A (p = 0.008). These findings indicate that omega-3 FA supplementation substantially reduces ED-induced testicular damage.

Conclusion: Omega-3 FA significantly protected against energy drink-induced histological and morphological changes in the testis.

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