Effect of Carvacrol on Sperm Profile on Varicocele-Induced Testicular Damage in Rats
Subject Areas : Journal of Animal BiologyElham Ghahreman 1 , Akram Eidi 2 * , Pejman Mortazavi 3 , Ahmad Asghari 4 , Masoumeh Asle Roosta 5
1 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Veterinary, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Veterinary, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
5 - Department of Biology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
Keywords: Carvacrol, Oxidative stress, Varicocele, Rats,
Abstract :
Carvacrol is a phenolic monoterpene found in the essential oils of numerous aromatic herbs and spices from the Lamiaceae family. This compound possesses a range of pharmaceutical properties, including antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial effects. In our study, we explored the protective effects of carvacrol against infertility induced by varicocele in rats. The animals were randomly divided into nine groups: control, sham-operated, carvacrol alone at deses of 10, 20, 40 mg/kg body weight per day, varicocele-induced control, and varicocele-induced rats receiving carvacrol treatment. After a 30-day treatment period, the animals were euthanized for analysis. Blood and sperm sampling were collected, with blood drawn from the heart for serum isolation. We then measured serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH. Additionally, sperm count, morphology, viability, and motility were assessed. Our findings indicated that the induction of varicocele significantly reduced sperm count, viability, and motility when compared to the control group. Furthermore, rats with varicocele exhibited a notable increase in sperm abnormalities. The infertile control group showed a significant decrease in serum testosterone levels, alongside increased levels LH and FSH. Notably, carvacrol administration at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg body weight led to substantial improvements in hormonal levels and sperm quality parameters, effectively countering the negative effects associated with varicocele. In conclusion, carvacrol demonstrates the potential to protect rat testes from oxidative stress related to varicocele, attributed to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.
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