Cupressus sempervirens recovers disturbance of normal male fertilization in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease and it associated with erectile dysfunction and infertility while Cupressus sempervirens possesses anti-oxidant properties. This study evaluates Cupressus sempervirens to protect the male fertility, and to preserve sperm quality in Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni)-infected mice. A 36 male albino mice of six equal sets were used in the study each with 6 mice; Control, cupressuflavone (200 mg/kg), and Cupressus sempervirens (C. sempervirens) (80 mg/kg), S. mansoni -infected mice, cupressuflavone (200 mg/kg) + S. mansoni -infected mice, and C. sempervirens (80 mg/kg) + S. mansoni -infected mice for 4 weeks. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and Sex hormone binding globulin were determined. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, total protein, and cholesterol in testis were detected. Antioxidants and sodium/potassium-ATPase in the hypothalamus, testis, and sperm were identified. Sperm counts, motility, and abnormality, as well as, sperm monoclonal proliferating antibody Ki-67 were evaluated. The results revealed that S. mansoni decreased superoxide dismutase, glutathione, serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, sperm count and motility, sodium/potassium-ATPase activity while increased malondialdehyde, serum follicle stimulating hormone, sex hormone binding globulin, and luteinizing hormone, glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cholesterol, total protein, sperm abnormality, the percentage of spermatogonia, 1st spermatocyte, 2nd spermatocyte, and spermatid in the testis. Also, C. sempervirens and cupressuflavone oral administration to S. mansoni-infected group back all of the aforementioned parameters to be close control values where C. sempervirens had an efficient impact than cupressuflavone did. In conclusion, C. sempervirens sustains testosterone cycle and sperm quality in S. mansonii-related testicular dysfunction.