Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) on sperm cell morphology and reproductive hormonal profiles in cypermethrin-induced male infertility in Wister rats

Abstract

The current study was designed to assess the ameliorative and potential adverse effects of date fruit extracts (Phoenix dactylifera) on cypermethrin-induced male infertility. The study was conducted in two phases using adult male Wistar rats (n = 42). The first phase was a single oral dose toxicity study to ascertain the suitability of date fruit extract and cypermethrin at 250 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg, respectively. The second phase assessed the effects of date fruits on cypermethrin-induced infertility. At the termination of the experiment, semen was collected by epididymal extraction for the assessment of sperm abnormalities, motility, mass activity, semen pH, and percentage live. We also collected serum samples for testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) profiling. Collected data were subjected to statistical analysis. The group administered only cypermethrin showed a decrease in percentage motility, live, mass activity and an increase in total abnormalities over the control group while the group exposed to only date fruits extracts showed increased percentage motility, live, mass activity and a decrease in total abnormalities over the control. The results of a combined administration of date fruit extracts and cypermethrin on a separate group showed a consistently reduced percentage of anatomically abnormal sperm cells and a general improvement of sperm motility and mass activity. Additionally, testosterone and FSH levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by date fruit extract treatment. This report provides evidence of the potential ameliorative effects of date fruit extracts in cypermethrin-induced male infertility but cautions abuse since some adverse effects were observed.

Keywords

• Semen
• Testosterone
• FSH
• Date fruit
• Cypermethrin
• Infertility