Royal Jelly Alleviates Side Effects of Doxorubicin on Male Reproductive System: A Mouse Model Simulated Human Chemotherapy Cycles

Background and objectives: Doxorubicin, an effective anticancer agent, might impair the function of testicular tissue and lead to infertility. Royal jelly can heal male infertility because of its antioxidant activities. This study aimed to evaluate the histologic, genetic and biochemical repair potential of royal jelly on doxorubicin-induced male reproductive system side effects during eight chemotherapy cycles in mice. Methods: In this study, 77 male Balb/c mice (11 mice in each group) were divided to: no medication as sham group, normal saline (0.09%), royal jelly (50, 100 mg/kg), doxorubicin (2 mg/kg), and royal jelly+doxorubicin groups, receiving treatment once a week for six weeks. Histological and biochemical factors of male reproductive system were evaluated. Results: There was a significant reduction in testicular weight, spermatozoa parameters, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and total antioxidant capacity levels in the doxorubicin group compared to the control group (p<0.05), whereas these parameters in the royal jelly (50, 100 mg/kg)+doxorubicin groups were significantly increased compared to the doxorubicin group (p<0.05). Malondialdehyde, apoptotic index, and its regulatory genes were significantly higher in the doxorubicin group, while these parameters were decreased in the royal jelly (50, 100 mg/kg)+doxorubicin groups in comparison with the doxorubicin group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Royal jelly protects male reproductive system damage induced by doxorubicin administration in mice. This protection was observed in both histological and biochemical respects. This beneficial effect of royal jelly can be attributed to its antioxidant properties.