Restoration of sperm quality in lead acetate-induced rats via treatment with Moringa oleifera leaf extract

Abstract

Background: Lead intoxication triggers testicular toxicity via oxidative stress.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the antioxidant potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) in enhancing the semen quality of rats exposed to lead acetate.

Methods: Twenty-five healthy rats were randomly and equally divided into five groups. Group C served as the negative control, whereas group C+ was exposed to lead acetate at 50-mg/kg body weight (BW)/day without MOLE. The T1, T2, and T3 groups were exposed to lead acetate at 50-mg/kg BW and concurrently received MOLE at doses of 200-, 316-, and 500-mg/kg BW/day, respectively, for 20 days. On the 21st day, all rats were euthanized for blood collection and testicle harvesting.

Results: The result showed that exposure to lead acetate at 50-mg/kg BW/day in group C+ led to significant decreases (p < 0.05) in superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, plasma membrane integrity, Leydig and Sertoli cell counts, spermatozoa numbers, sperm motility, and live spermatozoa, as well as significant increases (p < 0.05) in malondialdehyde levels and apoptotic and necrotic sperm, compared with control group C-. The administration of MOLE to rats exposed to lead acetate resulted in improvement in all of these variables. However, SOD and testosterone levels, as well as spermatozoa numbers, viability, apoptosis, and necrosis, did not recover in group T3 (p < 0.05) compared with control group C-.

Conclusion: MOLE effectively restores sperm quality in lead acetate-induced rats.

Keywords: Leydig cells; Malondialdehyde; Membrane integrity; Reproductive health; Sertoli cells.

Fig. 1.. Leydig (red arrow) and Sertoli (black arrow) cells were isolated from lead acetate-induced rats (Rattus norvegicus) orally administered MOLE. HE staining under light microscope in 400× magnification. C−: negative control group, with no exposure to lead acetate or MOLE; C+: positive control group, with exposure to lead acetate but no MOLE administration; T1, T2, and T3: exposure to lead acetate with MOLE administration at doses of 200-, 316-, and 500-mg/kg BW/day, respectively.

Fig. 2.. Live (green arrow), apoptosis (yellow arrow), and necrosis (red arrow) spermatozoa in lead acetate-induced rats (Rattus norvegicus) orally administered MOLE. Acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining and fluorescent microscope in 400× magnification. C−: negative control group, no exposure to lead acetate or MOLE; C+: positive control group, exposure to lead acetate but no MOLE administration; T1, T2, and T3: exposure to lead acetate with MOLE administration at doses of 200-, 316-, and 500-mg/kg BW/day, respectively.