ABSTRACT
Date Palm Pollen [DPP] and Astragalus genus are used in some countries for the treatment of infertility. This study was designed to investigate effects of DPP and Astragalus ovinus [A. Ovinus] on fertility in healthy adult male rats. Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups [n=6] including control and five treatment groups. DPP [120, 240 and 360 mg/kg] and A.ovinus [100, 500 mg/ kg] were orally given to the treatment groups. After thirty-five days, blood samples were taken to determine serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and estradiol. Weight of testis and epididymis, sperm count, sperm motility, seminiferous tubules diameter [STD], germinal cell layer thickness [GCLT], sertoli, leydig and spermatogonia cells were also evaluated. DPP at the of 120 and 240 mg/kg doses significantly raised the ratio of testis or epididymis to body weight, sperm count, sperm motility, and estradiol level compared to the control group [p<0.05]. LH and testosterone levels only noticeably increased at 120 mg/kg of DPP [p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively]. STD increased in the three applied doses [p=0.001]. A. ovinus extract at the indicated doses produced a significant reduction in the ratio of testis or epididymis to body weight and sperm motility [p<0.05]. Sperm count, spermatogonia, leydig cells and FSH level decreased at dose of 500 mg/kg. Furthermore, GCLT, spermatogonia cells, and serum estradiol level increased at 100 mg/kg dose of A. ovinus. Our findings indicate that DPP could improve fertility factors, while A. ovinus can exhibit deleterious effects on gonad and sperm parameters in rats