title: Beneficial effects of american ginseng on epididymal sperm analyses in cyclophosphamide treated rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the protective effects of American ginseng administered by gastric intubation on sperm vital quality in adult male rats treated with cyclophosphamide (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, 28 Adult male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups, seven rats in each. The animals allocated to control, CP treated, Ginseng treated and CP-Ginseng treated groups. Rats were treated with CP (6.1 mg/kg/day, i.p) for 6 weeks. American ginseng was used at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day during treatment. Sperm analysis (motion, count, morphology and viability) were evaluated at the end of the experiments. Sperm motion was assessed by Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). The data were analyzed using GB stat software. Probability values of p<0.05 and p<0.01 were considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The epididymal sperm counts in the groups that received CP showed significant decreases compared to the control group. Also dead and abnormal sperms significantly increased following CP treatment compared with control. The motility of caudal sperm was reduced significantly with CP treatment. Therefore, according to the results of this study, co-administration of CP and American ginseng can improve these parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  American ginseng can prevent the cytotoxic effects of CP on sperm quality factors.
authors.affiliation: 1. Reaserch and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran ; 2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Hosseini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akram
authors.forename: Firouz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghaderi Pakdel
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Samad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zare
keywords: Cyclophosphamide; Epididymal Sperm; Ginseng; Male Rat; Sperm Motility