Abstract
Varicocele is a disease characterized by an abnormal dilation of the pampiniform plexus that drains the testis. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the curative effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Dracaena arborea on some reproductive and antioxidant markers in rats with experimental varicocele. Following varicocele induction, rats (5 per group) were randomly partitioned into untreated varicocele, vitamin E-treated (150 mg/kg), aqueous extract-treated (500 mg/kg), and ethanolic extract-treated (100 mg/kg) animals. Two other groups served as normal and sham-operated. After 2 or 4 weeks of treatments, body and sex organ weights, spermatozoa characteristics, antioxidant status, NO level, sex hormones, and testis histology were measured. Animals with 3 weeks of varicocele showed a significant (p < 0.05–0.001) decrease in body and sex organ weights, total proteins, sperm characteristics, testosterone concentration, SOD, catalase, and total peroxidase activities. An increase in the plasmatic FSH, LH, and testicular MDA and NO concentrations was also recorded. Moreover, marked disorganization of the testicular architecture was observed. Treatment with D. arborea significantly reversed these impairments due to varicocele. For instance, after 4 weeks, treatment with aqueous extract of D. arborea significantly (p < 0.05–0.001) increased testes and epididymis weights, sperm viability (89.12 ± 1.09 vs 68.22 ± 1.42), sperm density (148.50 ± 2.59 vs 110.25 ± 2.51), and sperm motility (68.16 ± 2.39 vs 55.88 ± 3.20) in the left side, compared with varicocele-untreated rats. The extract also significantly (p < 0.05–0.001) decreased malondialdehyde level (2.19 ± 0.04 vs 3.50 ± 0.13) but elevated catalase (0.97 ± 0.03 vs 0.55 ± 0.03), SOD (0.5 ± 0.03 vs 0.15 ± 0.03), and peroxidase (65.80 ± 2.9 vs 40.95 ± 2.44) activities. Present results showed that D. arborea extracts possess antioxidant effects and improve sperm quality in male rats with an existing varicocele.
Highlights
Varicocele (VCL) is one of the major causes of male infertility around the globe
Since oxidative stress is considered as the baseline mechanism in varicocele-induced testis impairment and/or male infertility [7], oral antioxidant drugs are frequently used to restore the fertility potentials of VCL patients [8]. is approach could be more effective if combined with molecules capable of promoting steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis
We reported that D. arborea protects and promotes testicular germ cell proliferation in diabetic rats [12, 15] and prevents any increase of stress markers and impairment of sperm parameters in rats with 3 days varicocele [16]. ese properties of D. arborea could be attributed to its contents in saponins, sterols, phenols, and flavonoids [13]
Summary
Varicocele (VCL) is one of the major causes of male infertility around the globe. It is characterized by an abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform plexus, preventing both testes supply and metabolite waste elimination [1]. VCL generates testicular hyperthermia and hypoxia that alter testis oxidant/antioxidant status and create oxidative stress, inducing inflammation and testis cells necrosis [2, 3]. VCL is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular dysfunction and alteration of testis endocrine and exocrine functions [2, 6]. Since oxidative stress is considered as the baseline mechanism in varicocele-induced testis impairment and/or male infertility [7], oral antioxidant drugs are frequently used to restore the fertility potentials of VCL patients [8]. Medicinal plants such as Crocus sativus, Sesamum indicum, and Ionidium suffruticosum have shown both profertility and antioxidant properties [9, 10], while Pilea microphylla, Morinda officinalis, and Melissa officinalis prevent VCLrelated reproductive damages [6, 9, 11]
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