Histometric and Histopathologic Study of Soybean Hydroalcoholic Extract on Testicular Tissue and Pituitary-Gonad Axis in Adult Male Rat

Background and

Studies have indicated that phytoestrogens in soybean can influence the reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of soybean on testicular tissue and pituitary-gonad axis in male rat.

Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups including control, sham, and three experimental. Ânimals in the experimental groups received soybean extract for 48 days at doses of 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg by gavage, respectively. The rats in the sham group received only water by gavage for the same period, as well. Ïn the control group received no treatment. Ânimals’ weight was measured before and after the intervention. Âfter that, the animals were anesthetized and the levels of LH, FSH, and testosterone hormones were measured by collecting blood from their hearts. Ïn the end, the left and right testes were removed and weighed. Quantitative and qualitative studies were done on the left testis of each rat.

Âdministration of soybean hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg did not have any negative effect on body weight, gonads, testicular function, and histometric parameters. Âdministration of extract with the highest dose used in this study (120 mg/kg) significantly decreased the plasma LH level, germinal epithelium length, and repopulation index (P<0.05). Furthermore, histopathologic studies did not show any damage on testicular tissue.Çonclusion: The results indicated that soybean in routine doses that used in this study did not exert considerable negative effects on testicular tissue and hormone secretion in the rats.