P-108: Reproductive Toxic Effect of Carbon Tetrachloride and Therapeutic Effect of Cornus Mas Fruit Extract on Morphology and Histology of Testis in Rats

Background: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), an industrial solvent, is a well-established hepatotoxin. Studies demonstrated that liver is not the only target organ of CCl4 since it causes free radical generation in other tissues such as testis. It has also been reported that exposure to CCl4 induces acute and chronic reproductive toxicity. Diverse medicinal plants have been screened and assessed for properties in antagonism to free-radical-induced oxidative stress. Cornelian cherry (cornus mas), a medicinal plant has been mentioned for the treatment of inflammation in an ancient system of medicine in Iran. The aim of the present study was to investigate the reproductive toxic effect of CCl4 and therapeutic effect of C. mas fruit extract on morphology and histology of testis in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats (250- 300 g) were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups (n=6): -Sham group -Normal control with olive oil (1 ml/ kg i.p.) on the 16th day. -Toxic control - CCl4 (1 ml/kg i.p.) on the 16th day. -Treatment group with plant extract (300 and 700 mg/kg i.g.) for 16 days before CCl4 injection on 16th day. At the end of the treatment, changes in histological parameters in testis were assessed. Results: Histological studies of testis structure showed that seminiferous tubules of testis were severely damaged in the toxic group. CCl4 increased the number of sloughing tubules and interstitial space, while it decreased seminiferous tubular diameter (STD), seminiferous epithelial height (SE) and tubule differentiation index (TDI). Conclusion: The results suggested that carbon tetrachloride affects fertility parameters and cause testis atrophy after administration and these findings indicated that therapeutic potential of cornus mas.