Pleurotus tuber-regium mushrooms in the diet of rats ameliorates reproductive and testicular injury caused by carbon tetrachloride

Background: The incidence of male infertility arising from male sexual dysfunction is high especially in the sub saharan Africa. African foods may hold promise to reverse this trend. The aim of this study therefore is to evaluate the improvement of the reproductive and testicular injuries mediated by CCl4 by the use of a wild edible mushroom, P. tuber-regium. Methods: Sixty rats were divide into six groups. Group I received 3 mL/kg olive oil by intraperitoneal injections twice weekly. Group II received 3 mL/kg (30% in olive oil) injected twice weekly i.p, Groups III, IV and V received 100 mg, 200 mg and 500 mg wild edible P. tuber-regium (33.3% in feed) daily in addition to 3 mL/kg CCl4 in oil injected twice weekly i.p. Group VI received 500 mg P. tuber-regium (33.3% in feed) daily. After 13 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and testes weighed. Testicular counts and viability were evaluated. Serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, estrogen and prolactin were assayed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, total glutathione and peroxidase were determined in testis homogenate. Also, histopathological examinations of the testes were performed. Results: Administration of CCl4 to rats significantly (p < 0.01) increased the relative testicular mass in treated group when compared to control group. Also, CCl4 administration decreased significantly (p < 0.01) the levels of sperm motility, epidydymal and testicular sperm count and viability ratio in the CCl4 group when compared to the control group. Exposure to CCl4 decreased significantly the levels of FSH, LH and testosterone when compared to the control while increasing the levels of estrogen, prolactin and MDA when compared to the control. The levels of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, SOD, catalase, total glutathione and peroxidase decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in treated groups when compared to control group. These changes were reversed by diets containing Pleurotus tuber-regium mushrooms in a dose-dependent manner. Photomicrographs also showed that P. tuber-regium prevented the edema, spermatogenic distortions and maturation arrest observed in the CCl4 only group. Conclusion: P. tuber-regium is effective in protecting the testes from the free radical injuries mediated by CCl4.