Salvia officinalis restores semen quality and testicular functionality in cadmium-intoxicated male rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the potential ability of Salvia officinalis, one of the oldest medicinal plants, to protect male rats against cadmium reproductive toxicity. Twenty-eight healthy male rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 7); control, Salvia-extract treated group, cadmium treated group and a group treated with both Cd and Salvia. Administration of cadmium reduced the relative testis to body weight and significantly affected sperm parameters by decreasing motility, viability, count and increasing morphological aberrations. Comet assay was used to detect DNA fragmentation in sperms of the rats exposed to Cd. Serum levels of testosterone T, follicle stimulating hormone FSH, and luteinizing hormone LH were significantly decreased. The biochemical analysis of testicular tissue showed a significant rise in Malondialdehyde MDA level coupled with a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase SOD, glutathione peroxidase GPx and catalase CAT). The histological examination of testis sections after Cd administration revealed severe degeneration of spermatogenic cells. Seminiferous tubules were filled with homogenous eosinophilic fluid associated with atrophy of other seminiferous tubules. Co-treatment with the Salvia officinalis extract restored the oxidative enzymes activities and decreased the formation of lipid peroxidation byproduct, which in turn ameliorated the effect of Cd on sperm parameters, DNA damage and testis histopathology. Taken together, it can be concluded that the synergistic antioxidant and radical savaging activities of Salvia officinalis prevented the effect of Cd on semen quality, sperm DNA damage, along with the oxidative stress and histological abnormalities in the testis tissues.

Figure 1

HPLC analysis for methanolic extract of Salvia officinalis.

Figure 2

Photomicrographs showing the extent of DNA damage in sperms of rats in all groups as detected by comet assay. G1: Control, G2: Salvia extract treated group, G3: Cadmium treated group, G4: Cadmium and extract treated group.

Figure 3

Sections in testis of rats of all the four groups stained with H & E. X = 400. (A) Testis of control (normal) rat showing normal seminiferous tubules with active spermatogenesis, arrowhead indicates free sperm. (B) Testis of rat treated with Salvia extract showing several seminiferous tubules within the normal limits. (C) Testis of rat treated with cadmium showing severe degeneration of spermatogenic cells (arrowhead). Seminiferous tubules were filled with homogenous eosinophilic fluid (thin arrow) associated with atrophy of other seminiferous tubules (thick arrow). (D) Testis of cadmium-intoxicated rat treated with Salvia extract showing improvement in spermatogenesis accompanied with seminiferous tubules regeneration with only mild spermatid layer degeneration (arrowheads).