Protective effects of celery (Apium Graveolens) on testis and cauda epididymal spermatozoa in rat

Dear Editor Infertility is one of the health problems that will have a negative impact on the individual, social and economic and is seen in 10-15% of couples (1). About 40 % of the issues involved with infertility are due to the man. Male sperm cells count nowadays has decreased dramatically in comparison with those who lived 50 years ago (2). Causes of infertility in men are included: oligozoospermia, immaturity of sperm, sperm deformity, and sperm non-motility. Spermatogenesis takes place within the testes under control of testosterone secreted by the testes and secretory activity of the testes controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicle axis. Due to adverse effects and side effects of chemical drugs today, the use of traditional medicine, especially herbal therapy is taken into consideration. In traditional medicine, it has been pointed to therapeutic properties of celery. Celery has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties (3). Also this plant is an appetite stimulant and sexual booster (4). Previous studies have shown that sperm cells are largely vulnerable to oxidative stress but celery is rich in antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids (apiin and apigenin), vitamins E and C that can reduce oxidative stress (5, 6). So, in the present study the protective effect of celery was investigated on the cauda epididymal spermatozoa and testis in rat. A total number of 32 male Wistar rats (weighting 170-220 g) were prepared from animal house central of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Animals were maintained in plastic cages with 12/12 h light/dark cycle at 21±2 o C. All experimental animals were carried out in accordance with Ahvaz University Ethical Committee. Hydro-alcoholic extract of celery was prepared by maceration method. The rats were divided into four groups of 8 animals each: control, did not receive anything; vehicle, received propylene glycol; experimental groups, and received hydro-alcoholic extract of celery with doses of 100 and 200 (mg/kg) with solvent of propylene glycol by gavage once every 48 hours for twenty days. At the end of 20th day, rats were scarified under ketamine and xylazine anesthesia then the epididymis and testes were carefully separated. The epididymis was used for sperm count and testes were prepared for morphometric and histologic evaluation. Statistical significance of differences were assessed with one-way ANOVA by SPSS for windows (version 15) followed by LSD test. P<0.05 was assumed as statistically significant. Results of morphometric studies indicated a decrease in number of primary spermatocytes, Sertoli …