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Sperm membrane modulation by Sapindus mukorossi during sperm maturation.
Manish Nivsarkar1, Neeta Shrivastava, Manoj Patel
1B.V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Development (PERD) Centre, Thaltej-Gandhinagar Highway, Thaltej, Ahmedabad 380 054, Gujarat, India. neetashrivastava@hotmail.com
Asian Journal of Andrology
|October 5, 2002
Summary
The S. mukorossi fruit extract impacted sperm motility and superoxide dismutase distribution in male rats. This altered sperm membrane physiology without affecting testicular or epididymal structure.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Reproductive Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Sperm maturation involves complex biochemical and biophysical changes within the epididymis.
- Understanding how external agents affect these processes is crucial for reproductive health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of S. mukorossi fruit pericarp water extract on sperm membrane physiology during maturation.
- To assess biochemical and biophysical alterations in rat spermatozoa following treatment.
Main Methods:
- Adult male rats were administered S. mukorossi aqueous extract (50 mg/kg/day) for 45 days.
- Sperm parameters, motility, superoxide dismutase activity, and lipid peroxidation were analyzed.
- Histopathological examination of testes and epididymides was performed.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in sperm count or morphology were observed.
- Sperm motility was significantly inhibited in all epididymal regions (caput, corpus, cauda) in treated rats.
- Spermatozoa exhibited an altered distribution of superoxide dismutase activity, contrasting with controls.
Conclusions:
- S. mukorossi extract modifies sperm membrane physiology, specifically affecting motility and enzyme distribution.
- The extract induces these functional changes without causing observable histopathological damage to the testes or epididymides.