Effects of Nigella sativa on heat-induced testis damage in mouse

Abstract

Abstract:Background: Infertility is one of the major health problems. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Nigella sativa on heat-induced testicular damage. Methods: Forty male mice were randomly divided into the four equal groups as Control, Heat stressed and, Heated and treated with Nigella sativa 10 % and 20 % in diet. The scrotum of mice except to the control mice were immersed for 15 min in a water bath at 43 °C. Animals in the control group were treated identically except that the water bath was maintained at 23 °C. Fifty days after the heating, blood samples were collected for testosterone levels. Testes were removed for the measurement of seminiferous tubules diameter and percentage of spermatogenesis and oxidant/antioxidant status. Results: Heating stress signifi cantly reduced blood testosterone level and increased lipid peroxidation product and decreased antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.01). Nigella sativa treatment signifi cantly increased blood testosterone level and decreased testis malondialdehyde level and increased antioxidant enzymes activities (p < 0.05). In the mice treated with Nigella sativa, testes illustrated normal spermatogenesis and structure. Conclusion:The results indicated that supplementation of Nigella sativa in diet improves spermatogenesis and antioxidant status after a short exposure of the mouse testis to heat (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 45). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of Nigella sativa L. seeds on the testis of monosodium glutamate challenged rats

“…The stimulatory effects of NSS on spermatogenesis 15 results in preservation of the spermatogenic cells in different stages of development up to mature sperm. The improvement in the testicular histomorphometric indices in the current study is similar to that found in heat stressed 100 and chlorpyrifos challenged testis 16 . The ability of NSS to protects cell proliferation leads to enhanced regeneration after tissue damage 101 .…”

Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Are Involved in the Protective Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid Against Heat Damage in Chicken Testes

“…It is well-known as an important indicator of the physiological function of the testes and it also plays an essential role in maintaining reproductive function in males, including spermatogenesis and maturation. A previous study has suggested that heat stress-induced oxidative stress results in decreased blood testosterone levels in mice [47]. Moreover, hyperthermia-induced ER stress is closely related to the decrease in testosterone production in mice exposed to HS [15].…”

An evidence-based approach to medicinal plants for the treatment of sperm abnormalities in traditional Persian medicine

“…The exact mechanism of improving fertility by N. sativa is unclear, but some hypotheses have been proposed, such as antioxidant effects of its phytochemical constituents including thymoquinone and carvacrol. Moreover, some other constituents in the seeds seem to be responsible for its positive effects in male infertility, including unsaturated fatty acids which enhance the activity of beta hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase (key enzyme in the testosterone synthesise pathway) and also vitamins plus important minerals like zinc, copper and magnesium which increased reproductive organs’ weight (Burits & Bucar, ; Kolahdooz et al., ; Mohajeri & Kaffashi Elahi, ).…”