RESUMO
Background: Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), is ubiquitous in our environment and poses a significant threat to male fertility. Date seeds (DSs) are used in folk medicine due to their antioxidant activity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the beneficial effects of DSs, whether in powder or nanoparticle form, against BPA-induced testicular oxidative challenges and apoptosis, aided by inspection of specific genes linked to fertility, oxidative stress and intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Methods: Thirty-five adult male albino rats were equally divided into 5 groups including control, BPA, BPA + date seeds powder "DSP", BPA + date seed nanoparticle 1/10 (DSNP 1/10) and BPA + DSNP 1/20 groups. Results: TEM showed that the ball-mill method was effective to form DSNP with an average size of 20 nm. BPA significantly impaired sperm motility, morphology, viability and concentration. It also reduced serum testosterone levels and evoked marked oxidative stress in the testes. Additionally, serum levels of triiodothyronine and thyroxine were extremely reduced. Moreover, testicular mRNA relative expression levels of CYP11A1 and Nrf-2 were markedly downregulated. Testicular apoptosis was also promoted whereas Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was profoundly elevated. Histological pictures of the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate confirmed the unfavorable effects of BPA. Surprisingly, we first demonstrated that DSs, specifically the nanoparticle form, strongly alleviated all of BPA's negative effects, with DSNP 1/20 achieving the best results. Conclusion: Therefore, DSNP in both doses could be regarded as an ideal candidate for abating the male reproductive challenges caused by BPA.