Survey the Tribulus Terrestris Effects on Histomorphometrical Changes of the Testis Induced by Ethanol Administration in Male Wistar Rat

According to past reports, the Tribulus terrestris increases sexual hormones and libido in males. The purpose of this research was to survey the preventive effects of tribulus terrestris on histomorphometrical changes of testis induced by ethanol administration in male wistar rats. In this Expremental study 15 male wistar rats divided into three groups: 1- Control group (N=5). 2- Experimental group1 (received 1.25 ml/kg alcohol for 30 days intraperitoneally) (N=5). 3- Experimental group 2 (received 1.25 ml/kg alcohol for 30 days and received 100 mg/kg tribulus terrestris extract 15 days before consumption of alcohol for 45 days intraperitoneally) (N=5). Findings showed that the thickness of the wall of seminiferous tubules, the weight of testis, the number of spermatogenic cells decreased in experimental group1 whereas, all of these parameters increased in experimental group 2. Decrement in all of parameters in experimental group1 showed significant difference in comparison with control group (P £0.05). But all of the parameters have been increased in experimental group 2 with no significant difference in comparison with control group (p³0.05) and also with significant difference compared to experimental group1 (p£0.05). It is concluded that tribulus terrestris may prevent reducing the number of spermatogenic cells that have been induced by the consumption of alcohol.