Observations on Dag-like defect of spermatozoa induced by treatment of the phytotherapeutic Quassia amara/quassin in the mouse model.
Andrologia
; 53(6): e14046, 2021 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33756011
ABSTRACT
Gross alterations in the morphology of spermatozoa, teratozoospermia, invariably render them incapable of fertilisation. One of the contributory factors to teratozoospermia is failure of spermatozoon to shed the cytoplasmic droplet even after their arrival at epididymis. Quassia amara and quassin are of medicinal value with special reference to malaria. Nevertheless, there are also reports implicating Quassia/quassin in male reproductive toxicity. We were interested in finding if its therapeutic application would jeopardise male fertility. So, we tested it for male reproductive toxicity by analysing, among other aspects, abnormal sperm morphologies, and made a systematic analysis of the spermatozoa of treated mice before they are spermiated and until they arrive at the cauda epididymis. The spermatozoa not only failed to shed the cytoplasmic droplet during epididymal transit but swell to a very large size and were angulated, resulting in Dag-like defect or lasso shape. A link between cytoplasmic droplet that was retained and lasso shape of tail was indicated. This article traces the structural changes in spermatozoa that lead to angulation, flexion and coiling of the tail, caused due to retention of cytoplasmic droplet, and explains one of the mechanisms of toxicant-induced teratozoospermia.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Quassia
/
Quassinas
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Andrologia
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Índia