17 Turan YAMAN Abdulahad DOGAN Ömer Faruk KELES Fatih Dönmez Abdulhamit BATTAL Özgür Ozan Anuk Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JAPS 20242024/03/31 34 2 374-386 1018-7081 https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2024.2.0724 <p>The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of an infusion obtained from dried Chinar (<em>Platanus orientalis</em> L.; PO) leaves against ethanol-induced damage in rat testes. 30 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control, Ethanol 20%, Ethanol 20% + Silymarin (10 mg/kg/day), Ethanol 20% + PO-20 mg/mL infusion and Ethanol 20% + PO-60 mg/mL infusion. Histopathologically, ethanol-induced damage, including the depletion of germ cells and loss of spermatozoa, was significantly improved in the Ethanol + PO-60 group. Immunohistochemically, an increase in the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and caspase-3 was observed in ethanol group. Treatment with the PO extract markedly reduced the ethanol-induced expression of eNOS and caspase-3 in the Ethanol + PO-60 group. According to biochemical results, both of the PO infusion treatments caused decrease in malondialdehyde levels compare to ethanol group. &nbsp;On the other hand, glutathione contents in treatment groups were significantly higher than ethanol group. Fluctuations in antioxidant defense enzyme levels were determined. PO leaf might have a protective role against ethanol-induced testicular damage in rats by inducing apoptosis via the upregulation of eNOS expression and preventing lipid peroxidation.</p> Platanus orientalis; eNOS; caspase-3; Ethanol; Immunohistochemistery Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2023-JAPS-1022