ABSTRACT
Background: Wheat sprout contains a high amount of antioxidants, vitamins [especially vitamin E], minerals and phytoestrogen compounds. Use of medicinal herbs in reducing heavy metal toxicities has increased worldwide. In recent years, negative effects of lead on the male reproductive system and sperm fertility parameters have been shown broadly
Objectives: This study investigated the effects of wheat sprout extract [WSE] and vitamin E on sperm parameters and testicular oxidative stress in rats exposed to lead acetate
Methods: Thirty-five rats were divided randomly into seven groups: Gl [control group] received 1 ml/kg/day of normal saline, G2 received 20 mg/kg/day of lead acetate, G3 and G4 received 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of WSE respectively, G5 and G6 received 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of WSE respectively with 20 mg/kg/day of lead acetate, and G7 received 100 mg/kg/day of vitamin E with 20 mg/kg/day of lead acetate. After 35 days, rats were sacrificed and blood, sperm, liver and testicle tissue samples were collected for histomorphological and histochemical studies
Results: Results showed that count, motility and viability of sperms increased following the administration of 200 mg/kg/day of WSE [p<0.01]. Histomorphological studies showed a significant increase in tubular differentiation index [TDI], Repopulation index [RI], number of Sertoli cells, and epithelium of seminiferous tubules in groups receiving 200 mg/kg/day of WSE [p<0.00l]
Conclusions: Results of the current study show that dose dependent WSE significantly prevents testicular toxicity and oxidative stress effects of lead acetate
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Male , Oxidative Stress , Testis/drug effects , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Sperm Motility/drug effects , Sperm Count , Organometallic Compounds/adverse effects , RatsABSTRACT
Formaldehyde is one of the chemicals which are widely used in different places. Considering the fact that the usage of this chemical can induce a reduction on the motility and viability of spermatozoa and/or make them abnormal, a precise study on testicular tissue structure, producing spermatozoa, seems to be necessary because no accurate study has previously been carried out on this issue. In this experimental-quantitative investigation, a total number of 30 mice were divided into four experimental and one control groups. In this study, formaldehyde has been injected intraperitoneally at different doses for a period of time of 40 days. In order to provide the tissue specimens, the mice were initially anesthetized and after removing the testes and tissue preparing processes, the hematoxylin and eosin staining method was used and the sections of testicular tissue were studied under light microscope. Comparison to the control group, disorganization in some seminiferous tubules, cellular irregularity and reduction in density of genital cells, increasing of intertubular spaces, and confusion of interstitial tissue, discoloration and vacuolization of leydig cell cytoplasm and also a thickness in basement membrane of spernatogenic epithelium were observed in the experimental groups. The results of this study revealed that injective formaldehyde could induce some changes in testicular tissue and also it could increase the risk of infertility