The therapeutic effects of Sidr honey in healing the testicular and sperm damage of rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Sidr honey on testes and sperm damage by exposure to cigarette smoke in rats. Adult male rats were divided into four groups: (G1) control group, (G2) rats received Sidr honey orally (100 mg/kg b.w./d.) for 4 weeks, (G3) rats received 5 lit of Karelia red cigarettes (5 times/d.) for 4 weeks, and (G4) rats received Sidr honey orally (100 mg/kg b.w./d.) for 2 weeks then the animals were treated by Karelia red cigarettes generated by a machine smoking with taking the Sidr honey for 4 weeks. Rats in CS group showed a significant decrease of sperm count and an increase of the percentage of motile sperm, and testis weights as well as a higher percentage of abnormal sperm, and many abnormalities of sperm morphology as compared to control and TP groups. The testis tissues from the CS group showed atrophy and degeneration of some seminiferous tubules with an absence of spermatozoa, the presence of cell debris, and loss of the Sertoli cells in some seminiferous tubules. While the testis tissues from TP group had less damage to the tubules and germ cells as compared to the CS group. This study indicates that Sidr honey has therapeutic effects on testes and sperms damaged by exposure to cigarette smoke in rats