The effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seed on sperm parameters and spermatogenesis in toxicity induced by diazinon in male rats

Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate pesticide that can cause male infertility via the production of free radicals. Considering the antioxidant properties of Nigella sativa (NS) seed, the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of NS seed were investigated on spermatogenesis in toxicity induced by DZN in male wistar rats.
Thirty adult male rats were used and randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6): the negative control group received nothing, the sham group received corn oil and saline, the positive control group received DZN at a dose of 16 mg/kg body weight , the experimental groups 1 and 2 received DZN and doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight NS extract; respectively and the experimental group 3 received a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight NS extract. All of treatment was done via gavage for two months. After 2 months, sperm parameters such as sperm count, motility and morphology of sperms were evaluated and the testicular tissue sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Data were analyzed using Prism Software Version 5 and One-way ANOVA and Tukey ̕s post hoc test.
DZN (16 mg/kg) significantly decreased the number (P The results indicated protective effects of NS extract on testis tissue which may increase spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, spermatids and the number of sperms in toxicity induced by DZN in male rats but no change sperm motility.