Vol. 45 (5): 1043-1054, September – October, 2019
doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2018.0843
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Dariush Haghmorad 1,2, Mohammad Bagher Mahmoudi 3, Pardis Haghighi 4, Paria Alidadiani 4, Ensieh Shahvazian 4, Parsova Tavasolian 4, Mahmoud Hosseini 5, Mahmoud Mahmoudi 4
1 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; 2 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran; 3 Department of Genetics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; 4 Immunology Research Center, BuAli Research Institute, Department of Immunology and Allergy, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; 5 Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
ABSTRACT
Objective: Anacyclus Pyrethrum (AP) and Tribulus Terrestris (TT) have been reported as male infertility treatment in several studies; however, in Iranian traditional medicine these two plants are prescribed simultaneously. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of AP and TT extracts both separately and simultaneously on the male Wi-star rat fertility parameters. Materials and Methods: 32 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: Control, TT, AP, and AT treated groups. Treatment continued for 25 days and rats were weighed daily. Their testes were dissected for histological studies. Sperm analysis including sperm count, viability and motility were performed. Serum was obtained to evaluate testosterone, LH and FSH levels. Histological studies were conducted to study Leydig, and Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatid cell numbers, and to measure seminif-erous diameter and epithelium thickness. Results: Sperm count increased in all the treatment groups. Sperm viability and mo-tility in AT and AP groups were elevated. TT and AT groups showed signifi cantly increased testosterone level compared to control group (P=004, P=0.000, respectively) and TT, AP and AT treatment groups showed increased LH level (P=0.002, P=0.03 and P=0.000, respectively) compared to control, while only AT group showed increased FSH (p=0.006) compared to control. Histological studies showed signifi cant increase of spermatogonia, Leydig and Sertoli cell numbers and epithelial thickness in AT group compared to other groups. All the treatment groups had higher number of Leydig, spermatogonia and spermatid cells. Conclusion: TT and AP improved sexual parameters; however, their simultaneous ad- ministration had higher improving effects on studied parameters.
Keywords: Tribulus; Testosterone; Receptors, FSH; Receptors, LH
