Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University Veterinary Research Forum 2008-8140 17 8 2026 08 01 Protective effect of Livergol® on reproductive complications in a rat model of experimental cholestasis 559 564 738168 10.30466/vrf.2026.2078938.5005 EN Sevin-Sadat Shariatpanahi Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Rahim Mohammadi Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran 0000-0002-2104-9829 Ali Shalizar-Jalali Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran 0000-0002-9811-7754 Gholamreza Najafi Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Journal Article 2025 11 25 Cholestasis, a multi-faceted liver complication arising from an imbalance in bile production and secretion, can lead to damage in extra-hepatic organs, including the reproductive system. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Livergol^®, a silymarin-based drug, in the reproductive complications induced by experimental cholestasis in mature male rats. Twenty adults male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5), including group 1 (control) remained untreated, group 2 (sham) underwent laparotomy and bile duct manipulation without ligation, group 3 (cholestasis) underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce experimental cholestasis, and group 4 (cholestasis + Livergol^®) received oral Livergol^® (300 mg kg^-1) for 4 weeks post-BDL. After the study period, testicular histopathology was evaluated using Johnsen's score and the Cosentino criterion. Epididymal sperm parameters, including count, viability, and motility, were also assessed. The BDL-induced cholestasis caused significant testicular damage, evidenced by a decreased Johnsen's score and an increased Cosentino criterion. It also led to a significant reduction in sperm count, viability, and motility. Treatment with Livergol^® significantly ameliorated these effects, leading to a higher Johnsen's score, a lower Cosentino criterion, and marked improvements in all evaluated sperm parameters compared to the untreated cholestatic group. Oral administration of Livergol^® effectively attenuates testicular damage and improves spermatogenesis and sperm quality in rats with experimental cholestasis. These findings suggest Livergol^® as a promising protective agent against cholestasis-induced reproductive toxicity, likely due to the anti-oxidant properties of its active component, silymarin. https://vrf.iranjournals.ir/article_738168_e82878b09e0d8cd3df5d095e7f792545.pdf