Effect of Thymoquinone on Reproductive Parameter in Morphine-treated Male Mice

Abstract

Background:Thymoquinone as the main active component of Nigella sativa might have a various pharmacological effects such as antiapoptotic and antioxidant. Morphine is commonly used for the treatment of severe pain that can increase the generation of free radicals and affects the spermatogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate protective effects of thymoquinone against morphine-induced damages, sperm viability, count, motility, morphology and testis histology, and nitric oxide and testosterone hormone of the mice.Materials and Methods:In this experimental study, we divided 48 mice into eight groups (n = 6); various doses of thymoquinone (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and morphine (20 mg/kg) plus thymoquinone (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to 48 male mice for 30 consequent days. Male reproductive parameters including testis weight, testosterone hormone, serum nitric oxide, germinal thickness, sperm morphology, count, viability, and motility were analyzed and compared.Results:The results indicated that morphine administration significantly decreased germinal thickness, testis weight, testosterone level, viability, morphology, count, and motility of sperm and increased nitric oxide as compared to saline group (P < 0.05). However, increasing the dose of thymoquinone in the thymoquinone and thymoquinone plus morphine groups significantly decreases nitric oxide level (P < 0.05) while significantly boosted motility, morphology, count, viability of sperm cells, germinal thickness, and testosterone hormone in all groups as compared to morphine group (P < 0.05).Conclusion:It seems that thymoquinone administration could increase the quality some of spermatozoa and improves morphine-induced adverse effects on reproductive parameters in male mice

Effects of gallic acid on rat testopathy following morphine administration: an experimental study

“…Administration of MOR in male rats caused a significant reduction in sperm motility index and survival rate compared to control group, which confirms the results of the present study (10). In addition, the results of present study showed that GA or MOR + GA administration significantly increased the viability, motility, count and normal morphology of sperm cells compared to the MOR control group.…”

“…It seems that a significant relationship is found among the production of oxygen species in sperms and disruption in morphology of sperms. The increased amount of free radicals results in destruction of surrounding cells, damage to Sertoli cells, the collapse of cytoplasmic bridges in which a reduction in the number of sperms and a decrease in sperm motility are probable (10). MOR administration causes a reduction in testosterone level due to the presence of oxidative stress (7).…”

“…Both cauda epididymis was crushed and conserved in a warmed petri dish (37°C) containing 10 ml Hank's balanced salt solution. After 15 minutes, the cauda was removed and the suspension was slightly shaken to be normalized and observed by a light microscope (400×) (10).…”

“…The stable sperms were counted and assessed per 250 small squares of the hemocytometer using a ×40 objective. The amount of sperm per mm 3 equated the number of sperm counted (10).…”

“…In a direct effect, MOR has detrimental impacts on spermatogenesis by inhibition of sperm or testicular function, and also impairs the hypothalamic-pituitary testicular axis by an indirect manner, causing male infertility (9). MOR increases the rate of apoptosis in various cells, including neurons, glial cells, hepatocytes, immune and epithelial cells (10). This material increases the level of free radicals by pro-oxidant activity.…”