Abstract

BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF FLAVONOIDS ON SPERM PARAMETERS IN MALES WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO THE LEAD ACETATE

Muntasser Alawi Awad AL Awadi*

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the beneficial effect of flavonoids (quercetin) to improve the reproductive system efficiency in adult males rats exposed to the lead acetate. Twenty four males Wistar rats about 7 months old with average weight 190±10gm were divided randomly into four equal groups and treated for 60 days as following. First group (C) was given drinking water only as a control group. Second group (T1) was given quercetin (300 mg/kg/ B .w). Third group (T2) was given lead acetate (10 mg/kg/ B .w). And fourth group was given lead acetate (10mg/kg/B. w) for 30 day then treated by quercetin (300 mg/kg/ B .w) for 30 day. In the end of the experiment all animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected from the abdominal vein and serum samples were isolated to measure Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH) and Testosterone hormone. Samples of caudal epididymis were taken for estimate sperm parameters. The results of study were revealed a significant difference (p≤0.05) represented by increase in sperm quality, ICSH, Testosterone hormone level, and a significant difference represented by decrease in sperms abnormality in T1group compared with C group. Also there was a significant difference represented by decrease in sperm quality, Testosterone hormone level, and a significant difference represented by increase in sperm abnormality in T2 group compared with C group, while there were no significant difference in ICSH level in T2 group compared with C group. Also there was a significant difference represented by increase in sperm quality, Testosterone hormone level, a significant difference represented by decrease in sperm abnormality in T3group compared with T2 group, while there were no significant difference in ICSH level in T3 group compared with T2 group.

Keywords: flavonoids, sperm parameter, wistar rats, lead acetate.