Abstract

EFFECT OF GRAPE SEED EXTRACT, GERVITAL, AGAINST METHOTREXATE INDUCED HISTOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS IN TESTES OF ALBINO RATS

Samah M. Arisha*

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Gervital on testicular damage induced by the anticancer drug, methotrexate (MXT), in adult male albino rats. Forty male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into five experimental groups (8 animals in each one) Group 1: served as control group. Group 2: animals of this group were orally administered grape seed extract only at a dose level of 150mg/kg body weight daily for 28 days. Group 3: animals of this group were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of MXT (8mg/kg body weight) per week for 4 weeks. Group 4: animals of this group were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of MXT followed by grape seed extract (GSE) daily for 28 days. Group 5: animals of this group were pretreated with GSE followed by MXT. At the end of the experimental period, all rats were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for the biochemical study and testes were removed and prepared for histological and ultrastructural studies. Results: Methotrexate significantly reduced the final body and testes weight. Histological observations: several pathological changes were observed in the testicular tissues. These changes include degenerated seminiferous tubules, distorted spermatogenic cells and degenerated interstitial tissue with hemorrhage. Ultrastructural examination showed various severe degenerated features after MXT treatment including types A&B spermatogonia, round and elongated spermatids. On the other hand, GSE administration showed advanced degree of improvement in all the histopathological and ultrastructural changes; the testicular tissues appeared mostly normal. Biochemical analysis revealed that MXT injection significantly reduced serum testosterone level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while, it significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Otherwise, administration of gervital restored the previous biochemical changes to mostly normal level. The protective effect of gervital may be due its antioxidant and free radicals scavenging activities. The present study concluded that grape seed may improve the testicular toxicity induced by methotrexate.

Keywords: gervital, methotrexate, testes, histopathological, ultrastructure, biochemical.