Recovery effects of pomegranate seed powder on the testes following cadmium poisoning in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica); a stereological and lipid peroxidation study

This study aimed to investigate the effects of pomegranate seed powder on cadmium-poisoned testicular tissue in Japanese quail. A total of 270 day-old Japanese quail chicks were assigned to six treatment groups, control group, cadmium 50 ppm (group II), pomegranate seed powder (1 and 0.5 %; groups III and IV, respectively), pomegranate seed powder 1% + Cd 50 ppm (group V), pomegranate seed powder 0.5% + Cd 50 ppm (group VI). Stereological parameters in testes and TBARS, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were determined. Testicular components showed a significant reduction in area surface and volume density in the cadmium-exposed groups compared with controls (p < 0.05). It was found that in the cadmium induction group, TBARS, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were significantly higher compared to the normal level (p < 0.05). The results showed that pomegranate seed powder could increase the area surface and volume density of testicular germinal ingredients and decrease the content of TBARS, cholesterol, and triglyceride (p > 0.05) in cadmium poisoning testis. These results show that cadmium has destructive effects and pomegranate seed powder has prevented the development of these effects on stereological and lipid parameters.