Protective Effects of Morus Alba (M.alba) Extract on the Alteration of Testicular Tissue and Spermatogenesis in Adult Rats Treated with Monosodium Glutamate

Abstract

Various studies have confirmed toxic effects of monosodium glutamate in different organs. The review of literatures about influence of MSG on the male reproductive system shows the variety of tissue damages. Most of these changes mainly manifested by increased oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. The present study was aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of herbal antioxidants (Morus Alba) on the tissue damages related to monosodium glutamate cytotoxicity. Forty-eight adult Wistar rats were divided into two control and experimental groups. Each group divided into short (14 days) and long term (28 days) group. Experimental group was subdivided into four subgroups. The experimental group was injected with MSG (4 mg/kg BW, i.p.). Morus Alba extract (100 mg/kg BW) was administrated to two MSG treated experimental subgroups. At the end of study, the right testis was processed for histological evaluation and the left one was processed for sperm analysis and morphometric studies. Decrease of spermatogenic indices was accompanied with the changes in histomorphology of seminiferous tubules in MSG treated groups. Moreover, the sperm analysis indices were decreased in MSG treated rats. These changes were more obvious in long term treatments. The administration of Morus Alba extract led to improvement in histologic and spermatogenic indices. The most observable improvement in tissue changes was obtained by long term treatment with Morus Alba extract. The present study suggests that the administration of Morus Alba extract can preserve the positive effects in reduction of testicular tissue alterations in Monosodium glutamate tissue toxicity.