EFFECT OF Nigella sativa OIL TREATMENT ON THE SEX ORGANS AND SPERM CHARACTORS IN RATS EXPOSED TO HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

The effect of Nigella sativa oil (0.8ml/kg B.W) on testis, accessory sex glands and epididymal sperm characters was studied in mature male albino rats treated with hydrogen peroxide H2O2(0.5% in drinking water) for 30 days orally. The results showed thatH2O2 treatment caused a significant decrease in the percentage of live/dead sperms 13.66% associated with a significant increase in the percentage of and morphologically abnormal sperms 39.5%. While a significant increase in the percentage of live/dead sperms in both Nigella sativa oil treated group and Nigella sativa oil joined to H2O2 (85%), (72.16%) , respectively accompanied with a decrease in percentage of morphologically abnormal sperms compared with H2O2 treated group. It is concluded that Nigella sativa oil possess an antioxidative actions to counter act the impairment in the epididymal sperm characters caused by H2O2 treatment. INTRODUCTION Oxidative stress is a condition associated with an increased rate of cellular damage induced by oxygen derived species, a highly reactive oxidizing agents, belonging to the class of free radicals (Sikka etal., 1995). The most common reactive oxygen species that have potential implications in reproductive biology include superoxide (O2) anion, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peroxyl (ROO) radicals and the very reactive hydroxyl (OH') radicals. The nitrogen–derived free radical nitric oxide (NO') and peroxy nitrite anion (ONOO') also appear to play a significant role in reproduction. (Sikka, 1996). Excessive reactive oxygen species generation can overwhelm the protective mechanism and initiate changes in lipid and/or protein layers of sperm plasma membrane. Additionally changes in DNA can be induced (Sanocka and Kurpisz, 2004). Mammalian sperm cells have high content of specific lipidic composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids, plasmalogenes and sphingomyelins (Aitken etal., 1989). This unusual structure of sperm membrane is responsible for its flexibility and the functional ability of sperm cells, However, spermatozoa's lipids, are the main substrates for peroxidation, that may provoke severe functional disorder of sperm (Aitken etal.,1989). On the other hand, antioxidants, in general, are compounds and reactions which dispose, scavenge and suppress the formation of ROS or oppose their reactions (Sikka, 1996). Recently, dietetical antioxidants and their roles in free radical removal and prevention of tissue, cellular lesion have garnered attention especially for their usefulness in reproduction and management of infertility.Nigella sativa oil have known for their antioxidant properties in ameliorating inflammatory received 25/5/2005 accepted 28/2/2006 Mesopotamia J. of Agric (ISSN 1815-316 X) Vol. ( 34 ) NO ( 1 ) 2006 disease (EL-Dakhakhny etal., 2002). In addition, Mahmoud etal. (2002) pointed to the role of Nigella sativa oil against mice liver damage caused by Schistosoma mansoni infection by improving the immunological host system with its antioxidant effect. On the other hand, Black cumin seed oil enhances potency and have aphrodesiac action (Laver, 1984). The present study was designed to investigate the anti oxidative effect of Nigella sativa oil on testis, accessory sex glands, epididymal sperm characteristics in adult male rats exposed to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. MATERIALS AND METHODS 1.Extraction of oil from Nigella sativa seeds:The Nigella sativa seeds were purchased from local herb grocery in Mosul city.The seeds were ground in porcelain mortar.one Kg of the powdered seeds with appropriate amount of ethanol were heated to(80-90C ̊)in the extraction apparatus (soxhelet) (Maynard, 1970). Heating and extraction continued until uncoloured solvent was collected. This distillate was extracted by steam distillation until clear water was obtained. Moisture was removed by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the resultant extract was evaporated using water bath (40C ̊), this led to obtain the oil which was kept in a dark flask (Harvey and John,1998). The percentage of oil extracted was calculated by the following equation: Percentage of oil = ×100 The percentage of black seed oil was 12.7 %. 2. Experimental design: Twenty four male albino rats of 90-100 days of age were used, they were housed in polypropylene cages under controlled conditions of temperature(24-26C ̊)and natural lighting (10 hours light/14 hours dark)food and water were supplied ad libitum. The animals randomly divided into four groups (6 rats/group). The first group received normal saline and served as control.The second group received 0.5%H2O2 (Al shaheed factory-Iraq) in drinking water(Matkovics,1977). The third group received Nigella sativa oil (0.8ml/kg B.W) orally by gavage needle.The fourth group received 0.5%H2O2 in drinking water and Nigella sativa oil (0.8ml/kg B.W)orally by gavage needle. At the end of thirty days experimental period, the animals were scarificed by the ether administration and their weights were recorded.The abdominal cavity was opened, Testis, Epididymis (head, body,tail),prostate and seminal vesicle were immediately removed, trimmed, blotted in folds of filter paper and weight.Total epididymal head sperm count in 1ml was determined according to Sakamoto and Hashimoto oil weight