Therapeutic Potential of Date Palm Pollen for Testicular Dysfunction Induced by Thyroid Disorders in Male Rats

Abstract

Hyper- or hypothyroidism can impair testicular function leading to infertility. The present study was designed to examine the protective effect of date palm pollen (DPP) extract on thyroid disorder-induced testicular dysfunction. Rats were divided into six groups. Group I was normal control. Group II received oral DPP extract (150 mg kg-1), group III (hyperthyroid group) received intraperitoneal injection of L-thyroxine (L-T4, 300μg kg-1; i.p.), group IV received L-T4 plus DPP extract, group V (hypothyroid group) received propylthiouracil (PTU, 10 mg kg-1; i.p.) and group VI received PTU plus DPP extract. All treatments were given every day for 56 days. L-T4 or PTU lowered genital sex organs weight, sperm count and motility, serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T), testicular function markers and activities of testicular 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD). Moreover, L-T4 or PTU increased estradiol (E2) serum level, testicular oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptotic markers. Morphometric and histopathologic studies backed these observations. Treatment with DPP extract prevented LT4- or PTU induced changes. In addition, supplementation of DPP extract to normal rats augmented sperm count and motility, serum levels of LH, T and E2 paralleled with increased activities of 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD as well as testicular antioxidant status. These results provide evidence that DPP extract may have potential protective effects on testicular dysfunction induced by altered thyroid hormones.

Preventive effects ofAframomum meleguetaextracts on the reproductive complications of propylthiouracil‐induced hypothyroidism in male rat

“…Krassas, Papadopoulou, Tziomalos, Zeginiadou, and Pontikides () and Sarma, Saikia, and Das () showed in the clinical prospective studies that hypothyroidism is associated with sperm alteration in adult men. Several studies conducted on animal models revealed a fall in circulating testosterone, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) and altered spermatogenesis in hypothyroid subjects (El‐Kashlan, Nooh, Hassan, & Rizk, ; Hoda & Abdelaziz, ; Tahmaz et al, ). Decrease in sperm cell count and sperm motility, and increase in dead and abnormal sperm count were also reported (El‐Kashlan et al, ; Hoda & Abdelaziz, ).…”

“…Several studies conducted on animal models revealed a fall in circulating testosterone, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) and altered spermatogenesis in hypothyroid subjects (El‐Kashlan, Nooh, Hassan, & Rizk, ; Hoda & Abdelaziz, ; Tahmaz et al, ). Decrease in sperm cell count and sperm motility, and increase in dead and abnormal sperm count were also reported (El‐Kashlan et al, ; Hoda & Abdelaziz, ). Jiang, Umezu, and Sato () observed a significantly high frequency of epididymal spermatozoa with cytoplasmic droplets and alteration in fertilization potential in vivo or in vitro in hypothyroid state.…”

Effects of Phoenix dactylifera pollen grains extract supplementation on post-thaw quality of Arabian stallion semen

“…Various studies have concluded that dietary supplementation could improve spermatogenesis, increase sperm counts, motility, and increase the concentration of testosterone, FSH and LH (Salman et al, 2014;Baharara et al, 2015;El-Kashlan et al, 2015;Rasekh et al, 2015). Also, DPPG is a rich source of natural antioxidants.…”

“…Also, DPPG is a rich source of natural antioxidants. El-Kashlan et al (2015) observed that DPPG extract possessed a powerful free radical scavenging capacity. Hassan (2011) and Bishr & Desoukey (2012) attributed the powerful antioxidant capacity of pollen grain to its high content of phenolic, carotenoid, flavonoid compounds, and considerable amount of vitamins A, E and C. Moreover, pollens have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity (Abedi et al, 2012;Mallhi et al, 2014).…”

Identification of Flavonoids in Iraqi Date Palm Pollen by HPLC

“…The early Egyptians and ancient Chinese used pollen as a rejuvenating medicinal agent. It has been called a "fountain of youth" 4 .Regular consumption of DPP is beneficial in nephropathy, rheumatism,gastropathy, sexual debilityand DPP extract have potential protective effects on testicular dysfunction induced by altered thyroid hormones 5,6 . In addition DPP grains have antioxidant and hypolipidemic effect in which exhibited significant reduction for serum cholesterol and low density lipoptoein-cholesterol(LDL-C), triglycerides and improve the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol( HDL-C), also the isolated flavonoids from DPP have anti atherosclerotic effects in high dose 7 .…”