Prophylactic effect of nigella sativa against lead acetate induced changes in spermiogram, reproductive hormones and gonadal histology of rats

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa (NS) treatment on toxic effects inducedby lead acetate (LA) on the reproductive hormones, spermiogram and gonadal histology of rats.Materials and Methods: A total of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group 1(negative control [NC]) was the NC and was given distilled water, Group 2 served as the positive control (PC) and wasadministered 10 mg/kg/day of LA per overall survival (OS), Group 3 (T1) was administered 200 mg/kg/daily of NS per OSfor a month, and Group 4 (T2) was pretreated with 200 mg/kg/daily of NS per OS for 1 month, followed by 10 mg/kg/dailyof LA alone per OS for another. The rats were euthanized at the end of the experimental period for collection of blood and theright caudal epididymis and testis. Serum was used for determination of reproductive hormones by using radioimmunoassaykits. The epididymal segment was cut and homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline, and the homogenate was used fordetermination of the spermiogram parameters such as sperm concentration, sperm viability, percentage of live sperm,motility and abnormality. Both the epididymis and testis were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histological processing.Results: The sperm concentration, general, and individual motilities were higher (p<0.05) in the NC and T1 animals, whilethe T2 had intermediate and the PC had lower (p<0.05) values of each parameter. The percentage sperm viability was higher(p<0.05) in the T1 and lower (p<0.05) in the PC group. However, percentage abnormality was lower in T1, comparable inNC and T2, and higher (p<0.05) in PC. Spermatogenic cell population and epididymal sperm reserve (ESR) were optimal incontrol and pretreated animals, while the PC had lower spermatids and ESR. The concentration of estradiol (EST) was lower(p<0.05) in the PC and T2, while leuteinizing hormone (LH) concentration was lower (p<0.05) in the PC, and comparable(p>0.05) between control and T2. The concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was comparable (p>0.05) inall groups, while testosterone (TS) hormone concentration was lower (p<0.05) in the PC and higher in the control and T1groups.Conclusion: This study showed the preventive effects of NS administration against alterations in reproductive hormnes,sperm parameters and gonadal histology caused by LA in rats.