title: Protective effect of pumpkin seed extract on sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and epididymal histology in adult male rats treated with cyclophosphamide.
abstract: Cancer treatment with cyclophosphamide (CP) may result in reproductive toxicity as one of its side effects. The pumpkin seed is a rich natural source of antioxidant. We have assessed the possible protective efficacy of pumpkin seed extract on sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and epididymal histology of CP-treated rats. Male adult Wistar rats were categorised into four groups. Group 1 served as control and received intraperitoneal (IP) injection of isotonic saline solution. Group 2 rats were treated with CP by IP injection in a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, only once. Group 3 and 4 received CP plus 300 and 600 mg/kg pumpkin seed extract respectively. Six weeks after treatment, sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and histopathological changes were examined. Results showed that, sperm characteristics in CP-treated rats were significantly decreased. Biochemical analysis results showed that the co-administration of 300 mg pumpkin seed extract could increase the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level significantly. In CP-treated rats, histopathological changes such as vacuolisation, disorganisation and separation of epididymal epithelium were observed as well. Interestingly, pumpkin seed extract could improve the above-mentioned parameters remarkably in CP-treated rats. Our findings indicated that pumpkin seed extract might be used as protective agent against CP-induced reproductive toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aghaei
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nikzad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taghizadeh
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tameh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taherian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moravveji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D028464:Cucurbita; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Cyclophosphamide; epididymis; pumpkin seed extract; sperm parameters; total antioxidant capacity