Protective effect of Pumpkin seed extract on sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and epididymal histology in adult male rats treated with Cyclophosphamide

Abstract

Cancer treatment with cyclophosphamide (CP) may result in reproductive toxicity as one of its side effects. The pumpkin seed is a rich natural source of antioxidant. We have assessed the possible protective efficacy of pumpkin seed extract on sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and epididymal histology of CP-treated rats. Male adult Wistar rats were categorised into four groups. Group 1 served as control and received intraperitoneal (IP) injection of isotonic saline solution. Group 2 rats were treated with CP by IP injection in a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, only once. Group 3 and 4 received CP plus 300 and 600 mg/kg pumpkin seed extract respectively. Six weeks after treatment, sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and histopathological changes were examined. Results showed that, sperm characteristics in CP-treated rats were significantly decreased. Biochemical analysis results showed that the co-administration of 300 mg pumpkin seed extract could increase the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level significantly. In CP-treated rats, histopathological changes such as vacuolisation, disorganisation and separation of epididymal epithelium were observed as well. Interestingly, pumpkin seed extract could improve the above-mentioned parameters remarkably in CP-treated rats. Our findings indicated that pumpkin seed extract might be used as protective agent against CP-induced reproductive toxicity.

Protective Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Garden Cress Seeds on the Histopathological Changes of the Ventral Prostate in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats

“…Sakr & Nooh (2013) who studied the effect of Ocimum basilicum extract on cadmium-induced diabetes detected an improvement in testes tissue such as mean tubular diameter and germ cell height that attributed to the antioxidant properties of the plant (Sakr & Nooh). Aghaei et al (2014) demonstrated the effect of pumpkin seed extract in cyclophosphamide-treated rats. Vacuolization, disorganization, and separation of epididymal epithelium improved remarkably following the administration of the extract.…”

Protective effect of L-carnitine in cyclophosphamide-induced germ cell apoptosis

“…CP is widely used as an anti-cancer agent, which, however, can cause several adverse effects including reproductive toxicity, since it can inhibit proliferation of cells on account of its DNA-damaging effect (Tripathi and Jena, 2008). Although reports on CP-induced reproductive toxicity are available, little is known about the mechanisms (Kim et al, 2012;Aghaei et al, 2014;Comish et al, 2014). In our study, we have discovered that CP can cause a noticeable decrease in serum testosterone level and increase the apoptotic rate in the testis, thus giving rise to a decline in spermatozoon motility and viability and leading to infertility.…”

Ameliorative effect of nerolidol on cyclophosphamide‐induced gonadal toxicity in Swiss Albino mice: Biochemical‐, histological‐ and immunohistochemical‐based evidences

“…Selection of doses and dosing schedule as shown in Figure , for nerolidol and cyclophosphamide, was based on the earlier published reports (Aghaei et al, ; Iqubal, Sharma, Najmi, et al, ). Animals were randomly divided into five groups ( n = 6) and treated as shown in Figure .…”

“…Selection of doses and dosing schedule as shown in Figure 1, for nerolidol and cyclophosphamide, was based on the earlier published reports (Aghaei et al, 2014;.…”