Potential Effects of Epigallocatechin-Gallate against High-Fat Diet-Induced Memory Decline andTesticular Abnormalities in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced memory decline and testicular abnormalities in male Wistar rats using appropriate standard techniques. The findings showed that HFD consumption led to cognitive deterioration, an imbalance in inflammatory cytokines, an increase in the Lee index, and neuronal death. However, in HFD-exposed rats, EGCG treatment reduced corticosterone, leptin, and the Lee index, improved cognitive impairment, regulated inflammatory, autophagic, and apoptotic processes, increased adiponectin levels, raised brain and testes weight, and protected against neuronal atrophy. Thus, EGCG mitigated the adverse effects of HFD-induced non-spatial memory decline and testicular dysfunction, potentially by reducing hypercortisolism, modulating chemo-brain activity, regulating inflammatory, apoptotic, autophagic, and metabolic hormonal status, and preventing neuronal degeneration.