Objective: The present study focused on the effect of oral administration of sodium fluoride on antioxidant status and fecundity of spermatozoa of rats and also to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Boerhaavia diffusa L.Methods: Wistar male rats (weighing 100-150g) were administered sodium fluoride (at three different doses 100, 200 and 300 ppm/kg BW) daily for 20 and 40 d. At the end of the experimental period, half of the animals were sacrificed and their epididymis was removed. Remaining half rats were administered B. diffusa (250 and 500 mg/kg BW) for 20 d. Level of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) was estimated. Sperm morphology, count, motility and viability were also determined.Results: There was a dose-dependent significant decrease in activity of SOD (p<0.01) and CAT (p<0.05), and increase (p<0.01) in the level of MDA in experimental rats as compared to the control group. Sperm count, motility and viability were also decreased significantly (p<0.0001) in rats treated with fluoride. The fluorotic rats exhibited morphological abnormalities in the head (amorphous, hookless, double headed and bent), tail (coiled, hairpin looped, double-tailed) and body (short, large and presence of protoplasmic process) of spermatozoa as compared to control group. These toxic effects were reversed by the administration of leaf extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L. Conclusion:The results suggest that Boerhaavia diffusa L. extract attenuates fluoride exerted disruptions to spermatozoa.

Background: Assessment of male fertility needs evaluation of sperm quality parameters, namely sperm count, viability, motility and morphology. Aims: The present study aimed to analyse and correlate oxidative stress with sperm quality parameters. Settings and Design: The male Wistar albino rats, weighing between 100 and 150 g, were employed in the present study under the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals guidelines with ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethical Committee. These rats were categorised into four groups with six rats in each as control and test animals. Materials and Methods: Young male Wistar albino rats, weighing between 100 and 150 g, were divided into four groups of six rats each. The first group of rats served as control (n = 6) and was maintained under normal laboratory condition and was provided with clean drinking water, whereas rats in the second (n = 6), third (n = 6) and fourth (n = 6) groups were orally intubated with sodium fluoride of 100 ppm, 200 ppm and 300 ppm, respectively, for 40 days. Statistical Analysis Used: After the treatment period of 40 days, animals were sacrificed and alterations in sperm quality parameters were analysed by complete randomised design SAS 9.4 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM 17 and judged significant if P < 0.05. Results: In the experiment, a negative correlation emerged between sperm motility, viability, count versus malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, whereas the level of MDA has a positive correlation with sperm abnormalities. Sperm motility, viability and count were positively correlated with activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, whereas decreased activities of antioxidants were related to increased sperm morphological abnormalities. Conclusion: These results suggest that MDA causes a decline in sperm motility, count and viability and an increase in morphological abnormalities via oxidative damage of membrane lipids.

Objective: The present study explored the influence of fluoride exposure on gonadotropins and reproductive hormones.Methods: Male Wistar albino rats weighing 100-150 g were administered with 100, 200, and 300 ppm/kg body weight of sodium fluoride daily for 20 and 40 days. The control group was given 1 ml deionized water/kgbw/day for the same period. At the end of the experimental period, half of the animals were sacrificed and blood serum was collected and testis sample was taken concurrently. Remaining half rats were administrated with two doses (250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight) of leaf extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L. for another 20 days. Serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and intratesticular level of testosterone were evaluated.Results: It was found that fluoride intoxication resulted in significant increase in the level of FSH (p<0.01) and LH (p<0.0001) while significant decrease in the serum (p<0.01) and testis (p<0.0001) level of testosterone. A significant (p<0.0001) positive correlation was found between level of serum fluoride and gonadotropins: FSH (20 days, r=0.708 and 40 days, r=0.795) and LH (20 days, r=0.779 and 40 days, r=0.891). However, there was significant (p<0.0001) negative correlation existed between serum fluoride and testosterone levels in serum (20 days, r=−0.780 and 40 days, r=−0.862) as well as testis (20 days, r=−0.915 and 40 days, r=−0.938). Conclusion:It was found that administration of B. diffusa L. alleviated the adverse effects of fluoride on reproductive endocrine functions.

The present study investigated the effect of oral administration of sodium fl uoride on testicular histopathology of rats and evaluated ameliorative effect of Boerhaavia diffusa L. Adult male rats weighing 100-150g were administered with sodium fl uoride (NaF) at three different doses 100, 200 and 300 ppm/ kg body weight, orally, daily for 40 days. At the end of the experimental period, half of the animals were sacrifi ced and their testis was removed. Remaining half rats were post treated with two doses (250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight) of leaf extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L. for 20 days. Both light and scanning electron microscopy revealed dose dependent increase in testicular histopathological anomalies in NaF treated groups as compared to control. The normal histoarchitecture of seminiferous tubules was distorted. There was severe atrophy of seminiferous tubules as they were devoid of epithelium, with only sertoli cells and spermatogonia present within the depleted tubules. The spermatogenic cells showed degeneration and necrosis. There was severe tissue disruption, with absence of epithelial layers and complete cessation of spermatogenesis. The spermatozoa were absent in the tubules, only spermatocytes and spermatogonia were visible. The Leydig cell had scanty cytoplasm. The interstitial tissues were wide and congested. There was congestion and dilation of blood vessels. However, NaF groups post treated with leaf extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L. showed normal architecture of seminiferous tubules. The present study suggests that fl uoride exerted disruptions to testicular histology was ameliorated by the administration of Boerhaavia diffusa L. extract.