The effect of eurycoma longifolia Jack on spermatogenesis in estrogen-treated rats.
BACKGROUND
There is little data concerning the ability of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (EL) to reverse the inhibitory effects of estrogen on testosterone production and spermatogenesis. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of EL on testicular histology and sperm count in estrogen-treated male rats.


METHODS
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into four groups of six rats each. Group A (control) was given solvent in the same manner as the treated groups were given EL. Group B was treated with EL (8 mg/kg body weight) orally. Group C was treated with estradiol (E(2)) (intramuscular dose of 500 microg/kg body weight), and group D received a combined treatment of oral EL and intramuscular E(2). After fourteen consecutive days of treatment, rats from all groups were sacrificed and subjected to spermatogenic and epididymal sperm cell counts.


RESULTS
The spermatogenic cell count in the E(2)-treated group was significantly decreased as compared to the control (p < 0.05) and EL+E(2)-treated groups (p < 0.05). A similar finding was found for the epididymal sperm count; the E(2)-treated group had a significant decrease in the count compared to the control (p < 0.05) and EL+E(2)-treated groups (p < 0.05). Rats that were treated with EL alone exhibited significantly higher sperm counts and sperm motility when compared to the control group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EL extract acts as a potential agent for reversing the effects of estrogen by increasing spermatogenesis and sperm counts in rats after fourteen consecutive days of treatment.
Wahab
Norhazlina Abdul
NA
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan - Malaysia.
Mokhtar
Norfilza M
NM
Halim
Wan Nurul Heriza A
WN
Das
Srijit
S
D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D035701:Eurycoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004967:Estrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts