Effect of berberine on sperm profile in varicocele-induced rats
Subject Areas : Journal of Animal BiologySogol Fami Tafreshi 1 , Akram Eidi 2 * , Pejman Mortazavi 3 , احمد اصغری 4
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 - Head of Department of Pathology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Surgery, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science & Research Branch Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Berberine, Varicocele, Sperm, Rat,
Abstract :
Berberine (C20H19NO) is an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid that can be derived from various medicinal plants namely Berberis aquifolium (oregon grape), Berberis aristata (tree turmeric), Phellodendron amurense (Amur cork tree), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Hydrastis canadensis (Golden seal). It exhibits a wide range of biological properties, including antihypertensive, anxiolytic, antihyperglycemic, antidepressant, analgesic, anticancer, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiarrhythmic, and hypolipidemic effects. The current research aimed to explore the protective impacts of berberine on sperm profile in varicocele-induced rats. The animals were assigned randomly to nine groups: control, sham-operated, berberine alone (at doses of 25, 50, 100 mg/kg b.w./day), varicocele-induced control, and varicocele-induced rats treated with berberine. After thirty days of treatment, the animals were euthanized and sperm parameters were evaluated. Our results showed that varicocele induction notably reduced sperm motility, viability, and count in comparison to the normal controls. Additionally, sperm abnormalities markedly increased in the varicocele-induced rats. Berberine 50 and 100 mg/kg bw markedly enhanced across all semen quality parameters and mitigated the adverse impacts of varicocele induction. Notably, berberine led to no significant improvements in sperm features in the normal rats. Therefore, the findings suggested that berberine may have curative potential on the male reproductive system as an antioxidant, and it has potential clinical use for the treatment of varicocele disorders.
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