Table 5 Histopathological scores for testicular lesions in all treated groups.

From: Thymol alleviates silica dioxide nanoparticle-induced reproductive performance toxicity via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in male rats

Groups

Control

SiO2-NPs

Thymol

SiO2-NPs + Thymol

Lesion

Sloughing of the germinal epithelium

-

++++

-

++

Vacuolar degeneration of the germinal epithelium

++

+++++

-

++

Shrunken, buckled, disorganized seminiferous tubules.

-

++++

-

++

No - or single-germinal cell layers

-

+++

-

-

Hyalinization of the luminal contents

-

+++

-

-

Necrotic seminiferous tubules

-

+++

-

-

Interstitial edema

-

++++

-

++

  1. The grading of testicular lesions was described as follows: (−) negative, (+) very mild, (++) mild, (+++) mild to moderate, (++++) moderate, (+++++) severe.
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