UNAIR NEWS – Male animals are considered infertile if conception does not occur after mating for 12 months or more. Infertility may be caused by decreased spermatozoa production or motility that reduces the number that reaches the ovum and is able to penetrate the egg membrane during fertilization.
Fertility depends on the quality of spermatozoa, the successful delivery of spermatozoa to the egg. Based on this background, Dr. Budi Utomo, drh., M.Sibersama colleagues examined the effect of the standard 40% ellagic acid extract of pomegranate on the histopathology, diameter, and thickness of the seminiferous tubular epithelium in albino rats exposed to heat.
“In addition to hormones, spermatogenesis is influenced by factors that inhibit epididymal function, radiation, and an increase in temperature. Heat exposure causes an imbalance in the production of free radicals and antioxidants with an increase in free radicals that cause oxidative stress. Pomegranate is a source of plant antioxidants that are rich in polyphenols, anthocyanins, and vitamin C which can prevent damage caused by oxidative stress and protect cells from free radicals, “Explained Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) lecturer.
Vitamin C contained in pomegranates has antioxidant activity that will synergize with other antioxidants (polyphenols) present in pomegranates. Furthermore, it also maintains fertility by protecting the seminiferous tubule cells from free radical damage.
“A total of 25 five white male Wistar strain rats aged 7-8 months were divided into five treatment groups. Exposure to solar heat is given for 15 minutes at a temperature of 40 ° – 42 ° C for 14 days. All experimental animals were killed on day 15, and the testes were excised for the preparation of histopathological preparations by staining hematoxylin-eosin (HE), “he said.
The results of the study showed that the diameter and epithelium of the seminiferous tubules from mice exposed to heat and treated with standardized pomegranate extract with 40% ellagic acid of 300 mg / kg / day experienced a significant increase when compared with the other treatment groups. Histopathological evaluation is carried out by measuring the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the epithelium microscopically.
Author: Dian Putri Apriliani
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
Link : http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.12/August-2019/13.pdf
Budi Utomo, Nurfitri Rahmah Daningtia, Gandul Atik Yuliani dan Wiwik Misaco Yuniarti. 2019. Effects of a standardized 40% ellagic acid pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract on seminiferous tubule histopathology, diameter, and epithelium thickness in albino Wistar rats after heat exposure. Veterinary World, 12(8): 1261-1265.
