Physiological and histological effects of alcoholic and aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seed on fertility potential in male mice

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Nigella sativa seeds on the reproductive values, some sexual hormones level and histological change of treated and normal male mice at one spermatogenesis cycle (five weeks). Sixty albino Swiss male mice were used as animal model, they divided into six groups equally, and 1st group served as control group, the 2 group was treated orally with 150 mg/kg. B.w. of aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds, the 3 group treated with alcoholic extract 150 mg/kg. B.w. The 4 group was treated with 100 mg\Kg of CCl4 and the 5 th group treated with CCl4 (100 mg\Kg) and aqueous extract (150 mg/kg. B.w), finally 6 group treated with CCl4 (100 mg\Kg) and alcoholic extract (150 mg/kg. B.w). The parameters were determined, sperm characteristic (sperm concentration, motility, viability and abnormal sperm) levels of testosterone, FSH and LH hormones and histopathological study. The results of the present study showed that the treatment with CCl4 caused a significant decrease (P>0.05) in the sperm concentration, motility and increase the dead sperm and abnormalities. The results showed significant (P< 0.05) increases in sperm concentration, motility and decrease in dead and abnormal sperm in groups treated with aqueous and alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa. The animals treated with aqueous and alcoholic extract combination with CCl4 showed improvement in sperm concentration and motility compared to group treated with CCl4. The FSH, LH and testosterone significant (P< 0.05) increased in treated groups with aqueous and alcoholic extract of plant compared to group treated with CCl4 and improvement in group treated with aqueous and alcoholic extract combination with CCl4. The histopathological sections of testis of treated mice with CCl4 showed sever changes in testicular architecture. This was attributed to the cytotoxic activity of CCl4. CCl4 exposure induced histopathological changes in the testis including morphological alterations of the seminiferous tubules. Seeds extract have positive fertility and histopathological effects on the testis of mice.