Abstract
In this study the effect of Boswellia papyrifera (B. papyrifera) and Boswellia carterii (B. carterii) smoke exposure on spermatogenesis and sperm parameters in male albino rats was investigated. Rats (n = 11) were exposed daily in smoking chambers to smoke emanated by burning 4 g each of either B. papyrifera or B. carterii for 48 days. At the end of exposure duration rats were killed, and the testes were excised and analysed for histopathological and ultrastructural changes. Sperm analysis including total sperm count, motility, velocity and relative percentage of abnormal sperms were recorded. Rats exposed to B. papyrifera and B. carterii showed significant disturbances in spermatogenetic patterns and changes in sperm kinetics compared to unexposed rats. Atrophied seminiferous tubules with dynamic changes were also noticed. The boundaries of intercellular and intracellular vacuoles were seen in the Sertoli cells. Furthermore, in spermatids acrosomal vesicles were not fully formed. Degenerating spermatids were devoid of their nuclear membrane with electron dense matrix and vacuolization. Structural changes in Leydig cells were observed. Sperm analysis in exposed rats exhibited significant decrease in the sperm count, motility, speed and an increase in sperm anomalies when compare to controls. These findings demonstrate that the B. papyrifera and B. carterii smoke affects the process of spermatogenesis and sperm parameters and indicate the detrimental effects of these incense materials on human reproductive system.
Highlights
Boswellia papyrifera and Boswellia carterii, commonly known as Arabian incense, are traditionally used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat arthritis
Animals exposed to B. papyrifera and B. carterii showed a significant decrease in the total sperm count, the total number of motile sperm and the forward velocity of the sperm (Table 1, p < 0.001)
The rats exposed to B. papyrifera or B. carterii smoke showed atrophic tubules, and disturbance in the various stages of spermatogenesis
Summary
Boswellia papyrifera and Boswellia carterii, commonly known as Arabian incense, are traditionally used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat arthritis. Studies suggest that boswellic acid exerts significant anticancer, antimicrobial and immune-potent effects [3]. Apart from its therapeutic values, boswellic acid exposure has been shown to cause severe pulmonary changes and impair the lung function in rats [4,5]. The incense smoke exposure to rats significantly decreased the liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) glutathione (GSH) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and significantly increased the lipid peroxidation [6]. Long-term exposure to incense smoke is associated with weight loss, transiently increased plasma leptin, increased triglycerides, and decreased HDL-cholesterol, suggesting the adverse metabolic effects of incense smoke [7]
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