The Effect of Lyophilized Pomegranate Extract on Epididymal Sperm Quality, Oxidative Stress and Spermatogenic Cell Density in Rabbits

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lyophilized pomegranate extract on spermatological features, pathology of testes and total antioxidant/oxidant status in rabbits. Adult male rabbits were divided into four groups containing six rabbits each. For 8 weeks, Group I received standard diet and 1 ml % 0.5 carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Group II received 25 mg/kg/day pomegranate extract + 1 ml % 0.5 carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Group III received 50 mg/kg/day pomegranate extract + 1 ml % 0.5 CMC and Group IV received 100 mg/kg/day pomegranate extract + 1 ml % 0.5 CMC. Rabbits were sacrificed by using xylazine 5 mg/kg+ketamine 35 mg/kg anaesthesia and were euthanized by 150 mg / kg intraperitoneal thiopental sodium at the end of the eighth week. Spermatozoon motility, abnormal sperm rate, sperm membrane integrity, total antioxidant/oxidant level and spermatogenic cell density were investigated. All analyses were done only once at the end of study period. Data were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the degree of significance was set at (p<0.05). Sperm motility and membrane integrity increased significantly (p<0.05) in groups II, III and IV; abnormal sperm rate decreased significantly (p<0.05) in groups III, IV; total oxidant status decreased significantly (p<0.05) in group IV in comparison to the control group. Seminiferous tubule diameter increased significantly (p<0.05) in all groups compared to the control group. Germinal cell layer thickness significantly increased (p<0.05) in group IV compared to the control group. Results of this study suggest that 50mg/kg/day + 1 ml % 0.5 CMC and 100 mg/kg/day + 1 ml % 0.5 CMC improve sperm parameters in rabbits.