Effects of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. on ethanol-induced testicular damages in rats

Ethanol consumption has harmful effects on in the reproductive system of mammals. Oxidative stress plays an important role in ethanol-mediated damages. Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. (SL) is medicinal plant widely used in Iran folk medicine. SL has strong antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects in various oxidative stress conditions. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of SL on ethanol-induced testicular damages. In our study, 24 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control, ethanol (5 g kg -1) and ethanol (5 g kg -1) + SL (500 mg kg-1) group and SL (500 mg kg-1). After the treatment for 4 weeks, mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD). Johnsen’s mean testicular biopsy score (MTBS) criteria were used for histological evaluation. In addition to sperm parameters including sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology were analyzed. Our data indicate that ethanol administration caused a significant decrease in the sperm count, motility, viability in ethanol group but SL ameliorate this reduction in SL + ethanol group. In this study, both MSTD and MTBS values were decreased in ethanol-treated rats. However, administration of ethanol together with SL resulted in significant improvements in both of these values. In conclusion, our study showed that the reproductive toxicity caused by ethanol may be prevented by SL treatment

کلیدواژه ها:

Ethanol ، Stachys lavandulifolia ، Testis ، Rat