Background: Meloxicam is a type of NSAIDs that has more selectivity on COX-2. Repeated administration of meloxicam was reported to induce testicular toxicity, while curcumin and ascorbic acid have protective properties against testicular injury. Aim: This study was aimed to investigate the toxic effects of chronic meloxicam administration on the testis, evaluate the role of oxidative stress in this effect and evaluate the possible protective effect of curcumin and vitamin C each alone on this toxicity. Material and Methods: For successive 63 days, adult male albino rats were allocated into 7 groups. Group A, administered distilled water; group B, administered corn oil; group C, administered curcumin (100 mg/kg/day intragastric) dissolved in corn oil; group D, administrated ascorbic acid (200 mg/ kg/day intragastric) dissolved in distilled water; group E, administrated meloxicam (8 mg/kg/day intragastric) dissolved in distilled water; group F, administrated intragastric meloxicam and curcumin in the same previous doses and group G, administrated intragastric meloxicam and ascorbic acid in the same previous doses. Blood and testis tissue samples were collected for biochemical, histopathological, and ultrastructural examination. Results: The results revealed that meloxicam administration in high repeated doses led to a significant decrease in testis weight, sperm parameters, and antioxidant activity of testicular tissue. Plasma testosterone level showed non-significant decrease. Histopathological examination revealed tubular degeneration, intercellular vaculaization, interstitial edema and congestion of blood vessels. The ultrastructure examination revealed cytoplasmic vacuolations and mitochondrial swelling of spermatogenic and sertoli cells. Concomitant administration of curcumin or ascorbic acid with meloxicam improved these changes. Conclusion: The results clarified the strong protective effect of curcumin and ascorbic acids each alone on meloxicam induced testicular toxicity in rats at biochemical, histopathological, and ultrastructural levels.

Biomarkers are characteristic biological properties that can be detected, and measured, in parts of the body, like the blood or tissue. They may indicate either normal or diseased processes in the body. Biomarkers can be specific cells, molecules, genes, gene products, enzymes, or hormones. Biomarkers of toxicity are chemicals, metabolites, susceptibility characteristics, or changes in the body that relate the exposure of an organism to a chemical. Biomarkers are very useful in the world of exposure assessment when dealing with direct measurement methods. The use of Biomarkers in exposure studies is also referred to as bio-monitoring. There are three types of biomarkers that can be useful, biomarkers of susceptibility, biomarkers of exposure, and biomarkers of effect