Evaluation of the effects of cannabidiol and sleep recovery on oxidative stress biomarkers and testicular histoarchitecture in chronic sleep-deprived male Wistar rats

Abstract

Sleep deprivation induces oxidative stress, resulting in histoarchitectural alterations. Cannabidiol (CBD) possesses antioxidant properties that may help mitigate this oxidative stress and support cellular repair. Sleep recovery enhances the body’s restorative processes, improving antioxidant defenses and reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. This study aimed to examine the effects of cannabidiol and recovery sleep on the testes of adult male Wistar rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of six and treated for 21 days as follows: the control group received 1 ml/kg of distilled water; group II received 1 ml/kg of distilled water with 18 hours of sleep deprivation (SD); group III received 10 mg/kg of cannabidiol (CBD) with 18 hours of SD; group IV received 10 mg/kg of CBD with 18 hours of SD; and group V received 1 ml/kg of distilled water with 7 days of sleep recovery (SR). Sleep deprivation was induced using a modified multiple-platform method. The rats' weights were taken before the commencement of the experiment and on the last day of the experiment. Homogenate was prepared from testis tissue for oxidative stress analysis. The testicles were harvested, processed, and stained with haematoxylin & eosin for general histoarchitecture. Results from the study
indicated a significant increase (p < 0.05) when comparing the initial body weight of the rats to their final weight, except in the recovery group. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in final body weight across the groups. Additionally, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, and peroxynitrite. However, testicular histoarchitecture showed improvement in the cannabidiol and sleep recovery groups. This study's findings indicate that seven days of sleep recovery and CBD treatment have beneficial effects on the testes of Wistar rats exposed to chronic sleep deprivation.