Protective effect of Urtica dioica L against nicotineinduced damage on sperm parameters, testosterone and testis tissue in mice

Nicotine consumption can decrease fertility drive in males by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage. Urtica dioica L (U.dioica) is a multipurpose herb in traditional medicine for which some anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties have been identified.

The main goal is to investigate whether the U.dioica could inhibit nicotine adverse effects on sperm cells viability, count, motility, and testis histology and testosterone hormone.

In this study, hydro-alcoholic extract of U.dioica wasprepared and various doses of U.dioica (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) and U.dioica plusnicotine (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to 56 malemice for 28 consequent days. These mice were randomly assigned to 8 groups (n=7)and sperm parameters (sperm cells viability, count, motility, and morphology), testisand prostate weight, testis histology and testosterone hormone were analyzed andcompared.

The results indicated that nicotine administration (0.5 mg/kg) significantly decreased testosterone level, count and motility of sperm cells, and testis weight compared to control group (p=0.00). However, increasing the dose of U.dioica significantly boosted motility, count, normal morphology of sperm cells, seminiferous tubules diameter, and testosterone in all groups compared to control (p=0.00) and testis weight in 20 and 50 mg/kg doses in comparison with control group (p=0.00).

It seems that U.dioica hydro-alcoholic extract administration could increase the quality of spermatozoa and inhibits nicotine-induced adverse effects on sperm parameters.