An Electron Microscopic Study of the Antifertility Potential of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

EL-DIN, R. A. S.; EL-SHAHAT, A. E. & ELMANSY, R.A. An electron microscopic study of the antifertility potential of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in male albino rats. Int. J. Morphol., 30(2):666-672, 2012. SUMMARY:The present work was aimed at studying the antifertility potential of the commonly used herb, rosemary in the male albino rats using electron microscopy as the method of investigation. Ethanolic extract of the rosmary prepared and administered orally in two different doses for a period of three months to the animals. At the end of the experiment animals were sacrificed and testes removed. Sections for the electrone microscopy prepared and changes were observed. The present results showed evident microscopic changes in the testis of the animals received higher dose of the drug. Most of the seminiferous tubules were compressed, having irregular basement membrane and devoid of any spermatogenic cells. The present work revealed a clear morphological evidence of the dose dependent antifertility potential of the rosemary in the male albino rats.

Dietary rosemary oil alleviates heat stress-induced structural and functional damage through lipid peroxidation in the testes of growing Japanese quail

“…However, there are inconsistencies in findings between the studies concerning the effects of rosemary on the reproductive system of male mammals. While findings in some studies indicate that rosemary has a contraceptive (Nusier et al, 2007) and deteriorating effects (El-Din et al, 2012;Heidari-Vala et al, 2013) on testicular tissues, findings in other studies indicate that rosemary and its different extracts are able to prevent both functional spermatozoa damage that is induced by cryopreservation (Luno et al, 2014;Motlagh et al, 2014) and various toxicant-induced testicular, hormonal and spermatozoa damage (Hozayen et al, 2014;Uyeturk et al, 2014). In addition, Superchi et al (2005) suggested that the antioxidant activity of rosemary extract limits the negative effects of temperatures that induce HS on reproductive efficiency of boars.…”

“…Rosemary oil (RO) has various biological properties including great antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities (Adorjan and Buchbauer, 2010). However, there is inconsistent information regarding the effects of rosemary on the male reproductive system, because there are studies indicating that rosemary and its different extracts have been harmful (Nusier et al, 2007;El-Din et al, 2012;Heidari-Vala et al, 2013) while other studies have found there were beneficial (Luno et al, 2014;Motlagh et al, 2014;Uyeturk et al, 2014) effects on structure and functions of spermatozoa. One study (Superchi et al, 2005) was conducted that relates to the protection of rosemary extract against spermatozoa damage caused by HS in boars, but to the best of our knowledge there is no previous research regarding the effect of RO on HS-induced reproductive disturbance in male quail.…”

The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) on Memory Retention Deficit in Young Offspring Rat Induced by Maternal Sleep Deprivation

“…The research reveals clear morphological evidence of dose-dependent (250 mg and 500 mg) antifertility potential of rosemary in male albino rats [28]. Therefore, using rosemary extract in high doses may also have destructive effects on the brain.…”

Influence of iodine in excess on seminiferous tubular structure and epididymal sperm character in male rats

“…The removed testis were processed, sputter coated with 5 nm of gold (Q150T; Quorum Technologies) and the pictures were taken in scanning electron microscope (Zeiss EVO‐MA 10) …”