Supportive effects of Rosa damascene essential oil on epididymal sperm quality following long-term administration of copper sulfate in mice

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the supportive effects of Rosa damascene essential oil on epididymal sperm quality following long-term administration of copper sulfate in mice. Materials and methodsThe study included four different groups of six mice as follows: group Cu, which received 0.1 ml copper sulfate solution at a dose of 100 mg/kg, group R, which received 0.1 ml R. damascene essential oil at a dose of 1 mg/kg, treatment group (T), which received copper sulfate solution (100 mg/kg) and treatment with R. damascene essential oil (1 mg/kg), and control group (C), which received the same volume of normal saline. The supplements were gavaged in all animals every other day during the experimental period. All animals were killed 6 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. ResultsSperm concentration, motility, and viability in group Cu were significantly decreased after 6 weeks and improved in the treatment group in comparison with the Cu group. ConclusionAdministration of the essential oil of R. damascene can protect the testis and epididymal sperm from the adverse effects of copper poisoning in mice.