Effects of pomegranate peel extract on histopathology, testosterone levels and sperm of testicular torsion-detorsion induced in adult Wistar rats

J Complement Integr Med. 2017 Jul 22;14(4):/j/jcim.2017.14.issue-4/jcim-2017-0009/jcim-2017-0009.xml. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2017-0009.

Abstract

Background In the present study, effects of pomegranate peel extract have been evaluated on decreasing the damage induced by testis torsion. Methods In this study, 30 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of control, experimental (1) and experimental (2).

Control: no ischemia, received vehicle alone, exposed to sham operation. Experimental (1): Received the vehicle alone during ischemia followed by 60 days' reperfusion. Experimental (2): After performing ischemia reperfusion, 500 mg/kg of pomegranate peel extract has been used for 60 days. Blood samples and sperm samples were collected. Testes were harvested and stained with haematoxylin and eosin to study the structure of seminiferous tubules. Results The statistical comparison between sperm count and their viability and testosterone hormone amount showed a significant difference between control and experimental (1) groups and control and experimental (2) groups. The results showed an improvement of morphological condition of seminiferous tubules. Conclusions Pomegranate peel extract has revealed desirable changes on the effective parameters in infertility.

Keywords: pomegranate peel extract; rat; testicular torsion–detorsion.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fruit
  • Lythraceae*
  • Male
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reperfusion Injury / drug therapy*
  • Reperfusion Injury / etiology
  • Reperfusion Injury / pathology
  • Seminiferous Tubules / drug effects*
  • Seminiferous Tubules / pathology
  • Sperm Count
  • Spermatic Cord Torsion / complications
  • Spermatic Cord Torsion / drug therapy*
  • Spermatic Cord Torsion / pathology
  • Spermatogenesis / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*
  • Testis / blood supply
  • Testis / injuries*
  • Testis / pathology
  • Testosterone / blood*

Substances

  • Testosterone