effect of genistein on reproductive parameter and serum nitric oxide levels in morphine-treated mice

background: the predominant phytoestrogen in soy and derived products is the isoflavone genistein. genistein has antioxidant properties. morphine is a main psychoactive chemical in opium that can increase the generation of free radicals and therefore it could adversely affects the spermatogenesis. objective: the main goal was to investigate whether the genistein could protect morphine adverse effects on sperm cells viability, count, motility, and testis histology and testosterone hormone and nitric oxide in blood serum. materials and methods: in this study, various doses of genistein (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg) and genistein plus morphine (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg/kg) were administered interaperitoneally to 48 male mice for 30 consequent days. these mice were randomly assigned to 8 groups (n=6) and sperm parameters (sperm cells viability, count, motility and morphology), testis weight and histology, testosterone hormone (elisa method), fsh and lh hormones (immunoradiometry) and serum nitric oxide (griess assay) were analyzed and compared. results: the results indicated that morphine administration significantly decreased testosterone (0.03 ng/mg) lh and fsh level, histological parameters, count, viability (55.3%), morphology and motility of sperm cells (1%), testis weight (0.08 gr) and increase nitric oxide compared to saline group (p=0.00). however, administration of genistein and genistein plus morphine significantly boosted motility, morphology, count, viability of sperm cells, seminiferous tubules diameter, germinal thickness, testosterone, lh and fsh while decrease nitric oxide level in all groups compared to morphine group (p<0.025). conclusion: it seems that genistein administration could increase the quality of spermatozoa and prevent morphine- induced adverse effects on sperm parameters