Etlingera hemisphaerica Blume attenuates male reproductive toxicity due to mercury chloride in Mus musculus

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of leaf ethanolic extract Etlingera hemisphaerica Blume (LE3H) on male reproductive toxicity due to mercury chloride (HgCl2) in Mus musculus (mice). Those were three test materials; 5 mg/kg body weight (bw) HgCl2, 0.2 mg/gbw Immunos®, and 0.13, 0.26, 0.39 mg/gbw LE3H. On day 1 (d-1), four groups of 5 mice were given HgCl2 by gavage, and then on d-3, d-5, and d-7 days, three groups were administered 0.13, 0.26, and 0.39 mg/gbw of LE3H, another group as control. On d-16, the animals were killed using the cervical dislocation method for observing their testicular morphometrics. Three groups of 9 mice were given HgCl2 by injected on d-1, and then on d-4 one group was administered Immunos® and one group was administered a determined LE3H, another group as control, and then were killed on d-7 for measuring glucose and malondialdehyde (MDA). Two groups of 15 mice were injected with HgCl2 on d-1, and then on d-3, one group was administrated by the determined LE3H, another group as control, and then were killed on d-6 for investigating sperms quality. Results revealed that HgCl2 increased the weight, length, and diameter of the testes compared to the control, while HgCl2 + LE3H three times tended to restore testes similar to the control. A dose of LE3H (0.39 mg/gbw) was effective in testicular recovery conditions. HgCl2 increased blood glucose dan MDA levels compared to the control. The blood glucose dan MDA level on HgCl2 + Immunos® and HgCl2 + LE3H did not differ from the control. HgCl2 decreased sperm concentration compared to the control. HgCl2 + LE3H was lower than HgCl2 and approach the control. Sperm moves fast and straight in the control, HgCl2, and HgCl2 + LE3H were 30.63; 16.12; and 27.62% respectively. Thus, LE3H attenuates male reproductive toxicity duo to HgCl2 in mice.