Arif Keskin; Ozlem Aydin Berktas; Murat Boydak & Ilknur Undag

The aim of this study was to determine the toxic effects of formaldehyde on testicular tissue and the protective effect of Giresun hazelnut oil against these effects. In the study, 40 Wistar albino male rats were used. Rats in Group I were injected intraperitoneally with formaldehyde every other day. Rats in Group II were designated as the control group. Rats in Group III were intragastrically administered Giresun hazelnut oil 100 mg/kg and rats in Group IV were administered Giresun hazelnut oil 200 mg/kg every other day with formaldehyde injection. At the end of the 30-day experimental period, all rats were euthanized under high dose anesthesia after blood sampling. Biochemical and histologic evaluations were performed on the testicular tissues. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and myeloperoxidase enzyme activity (MPx) were examined in rats treated with formaldehyde. Compared to the control, LPO levels and MPx enzyme activity were found to be very high in the formaldehyde group. Testosterone levels were very low in the formaldehyde group. The applied Giresun hazelnut oil brought this ratio to the level of healthy tissues. Testosterone levels and interstitial cell (Leydig cell) numbers were also found to be very low in tissues exposed to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde caused harmful effects on testicular tissue and water extract of Giresun hazelnut oil showed a significant protective effect against these effects.

KEY WORDS: Formaldehyde; Rat; Testis; Giresun hazelnut oil.

KESKIN, A.; BERKTAS AYDIN, O.; BOYDAK, M. & UNDAG, I. The effect of Giresun hazelnut oil against formaldehyde damage in rat testicular tissues. Int. J. Morphol., 44(1):239-249, 2026.