P-16: Effects of Urtica Dioica Extract on Histomorphometric Structure of Rat Testis Induced by High Dose Testosterone

Background: Hormonal disorders such as hyperactivity of testosterone are one of the causes of infertility. In the present study, effects of Urtica dioica root extract on histomorphometric changes of rat testes induced by high dose testosterone was investigated. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 25 male mature wistar rats were divided in 5 groups, group 1 was control, group 2 received testosterone with dosage of 10 mg/kg subcutaneously, group 3 received solvent of testosterone (almond oil) with 10 mg/kg dosage subcutaneously, group 4 received Urtica dioica root extract in dosage of 50 mg/kg orally and group 5 received testosterone (10 mg/ kg) along with Urtica dioica root extract (50 mg/kg) for 6 weeks daily. The rats were euthanized and testes were removed and the macroscopic parameters (weight and volume) meaturment, then, they were fixed in buffer formalin 10%. The 5-6 μ sections were made and stained with HandE. The micrometrical meaturment were done using Dino digital Lens and Dino software capture1. Results: The ratio of testis weight to body weight showed a significant reduction in the testosterone group compared to Urtica dioica and testosterone+Urtica dioica groups (p<0.05). Spermatogenesis evaluation indicated that testosterone group caused a significant increasing in RI compared to control (p<0.05), Urtica dioica and almond oil groups (p<0.01). TDI and SI increased in testosterone group compared to Urtica dioica group significantly (p<0.01). The size of Leydig cells and thickness of germinal epithelium in testosterone+Urtica dioica group decreased compared to control group significantly (p<0.05). The seminiferous diameter was not changed in different groups. Conclusion: Urtica dioica has a significant effect on reducing testis weight and TDI2 and SI3 following testostrone inducing in high dosage.