Histopathological evaluation of supportive effects of Rosa damascene on mice testes, following long term administration of copper sulfate

ObjectiveTo evaluate the supportive effects of Rosa damascene (R. damascene) essential oil on epididymal sperm quality and histopathology of testes following long term administration of copper sulfate in mice.Materials and methodsThe study comprised of four different groups of six mice as follows: group Cu, which received 0.1 mL copper sulfate solution at dose of 100 mg/kg, group R which received 0.1 mL R. damascene essential oil at dose of 1 mg/kg, treatment group (T) which received copper sulfate solution (100 mg/kg) and treated by R. damascene essential oil (1 mg/kg), and control group (C) which received the same volume of normal saline. The supplements were gavaged in all animals every other day, during experimental period. All animals of each experimental group were sacrificed 42 days after the beginning of experiment.ResultsResults showed that sperm concentration, motility and viability in group Cu were significantly decreased after 6 weeks, and severe degenerative changes were observed in testicular tissues in comparison with the control group. In treatment group, significant improve in the sperm count, motility and viability, and normal architecture in most seminiferous tubules with organized epithelium was observed compared to the group Cu.ConclusionsAdministration of the essential oil of R. damascene owning to its antioxidant properties is able to protect the testis and epididymal sperm from the adverse effects of copper poisoning in mice.