title: Prophylactic effect ofNigella sativaagainst lead acetate induced changes in spermiogram, reproductive hormones and gonadal histology of rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic effect ofNigella sativa(NS) treatment on toxic effects induced by lead acetate (LA) on the reproductive hormones, spermiogram and gonadal histology of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group 1 (negative control [NC]) was the NC and was given distilled water, Group 2 served as the positive control (PC) and was administered 10 mg/kg/day of LA per overall survival (OS), Group 3 (T1) was administered 200 mg/kg/daily of NS per OS for a month, and Group 4 (T2) was pretreated with 200 mg/kg/daily of NS per OS for 1 month, followed by 10 mg/kg/daily of LA alone per OS for another. The rats were euthanized at the end of the experimental period for collection of blood and the right caudal epididymis and testis. Serum was used for determination of reproductive hormones by using radioimmunoassay kits. The epididymal segment was cut and homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline, and the homogenate was used for determination of the spermiogram parameters such as sperm concentration, sperm viability, percentage of live sperm, motility and abnormality. Both the epididymis and testis were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histological processing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sperm concentration, general, and individual motilities were higher (p<0.05) in the NC and T1 animals, while the T2 had intermediate and the PC had lower (p<0.05) values of each parameter. The percentage sperm viability was higher (p<0.05) in the T1 and lower (p<0.05) in the PC group. However, percentage abnormality was lower in T1, comparable in NC and T2, and higher (p<0.05) in PC. Spermatogenic cell population and epididymal sperm reserve (ESR) were optimal in control and pretreated animals, while the PC had lower spermatids and ESR. The concentration of estradiol (EST) was lower (p<0.05) in the PC and T2, while leuteinizing hormone (LH) concentration was lower (p<0.05) in the PC, and comparable (p>0.05) between control and T2. The concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was comparable (p>0.05) in all groups, while testosterone (TS) hormone concentration was lower (p<0.05) in the PC and higher in the control and T1 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the preventive effects of NS administration against alterations in reproductive hormnes, sperm parameters and gonadal histology caused by LA in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Iraq; Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohammed Abdulrazzaq
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Assi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohammed Noor Mohd
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hezmee
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abba
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Md Sabri Md
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abd Wahid
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Haron
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rajion
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baghdad University, Iraq.
authors.forename: Mashaan Abbas
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Zuhairy
keywords: Nigella sativa; histology; infertility; lead acetate; spermiogram; toxicity