Protective Effect of Fenugreek Supplementation Against Mercury Toxicity on Sperm Parameters, Serum Testosterone and Testicular Tissue in the Rat

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of fenugreek supplementation against toxic effect of mercury chloride (HgCl₂) on Body weight (B.W), testis and epididymis weight, some sperm parameters, serum testosterone, MDA, and testis histology in the rat. Twenty eight male albino rats their weights ranged from 254 to 302 gm were divided equally into 4 groups. GroupI: control, GroupII: Rats received drinking water contained HgCl₂ 100 mg/L ad libitum, GroupIII: Rats received drinking water contained HgCl₂ 100 mg/L ad libitum, and fenugreek supplementation (F1) 0.75 mg/kg/day orally by gavage, GroupIV: Rats received drinking water contained HgCl₂ 100 mg/L ad libitum and fenugreek supplementation (F2) 1.5 mg/kg/day orally by gavage. The treatments were given for six weeks. After treatments, B.W of rats, testis and epididymis weight, sperm count, sperm morphology, sperm motility, serum testosterone, serum MDA were determined, and histological sections in testes were made in normal and experimental rats. Treatment with F1 against mercury caused no substantial changes in body weight, absolute weight, or relative weight of testis and epididymis, sperm count and testosterone. Whereas sperm motility, and normal sperm were increased significantly, and serum MDA was decreased significantly from Hg group. Improvement in part was observed in testis histology. Meanwhile, F2 against mercury generally was more effective than F1. In conclusion, the present study revealed that fenugreek supplementation at least in part by its antioxidants reduced toxic effect of mercury. Steroids and/or phytoestrogens in fenugreek possibly compensated reduced testosterone which resulted at least in part in improvement of sperm parameters and testis histology.