ABSTRACT
Several studies have shown that many pregnant women use medicinal plants during pregnancy without knowing some of those teratogenic effects. One of these plants is Stachys lavandulifolia that is used for many health treatments. The teratogenic effect of this plant has not been established yet. Therefore in this study the teratogenic effect of Stachys lavandulifolia was investigated in Balb/c mice. In this experimental study, 60 female Wistar rats [30-40 gr, 8-12 weeks old] were randomlydesignated into 6 groups. [2 control and 4 case groups]. Pregnancy was confirmed with vaginal plaque. The doses of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg of the extracts of Stachys lavandulifolia vahl were injected intra peritoneal [i.p.] to pregnant mice from the 7th to 12th days of pregnancy. The fifth group received saline and theSixth group [control group] received nothing. In the 18th day of the pregnancy the fetuses were removed from the uterine tubes and their weight and height were measured by digital scale and Kullis, then they were painted by red alizarin and their skeletal disorders were checked. Data were analyzed with Chi square and Kruskal Wallis and Dunn post hoc tests. Using different doses of hydro alcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia the fetal growth was impaired and this impairment increasesd with increased doses of the extract [P<0.01]. In the dose of 200 mg/kg inter parietal bone was not observed in 40% of embryos [P<0.01], regarding the extra rib there was no significant difference between groups. In the case of having additional rib, no significant difference was found between the groups. Stachysl lavandulifolia extract has teratogenic effect and using it causes growth retardation and stopping the inter parietal bone formation. Therefore it should be considered as contraindication or use with caution, in pregnancy
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: Lead is one of the environmental contaminants. In this study we examined the effects of lead on motility, viability and DNA denaturation of mouse spermatozoa. The aim of the study was to find the effects of lead on the above parameters and to see whether these effects are reversible or not.
Methods: Twenty four male mice were considered as case group and 24 mice as control group. The case group was injected by 200 mg/kg of lead acetate and control group was injected only by distilled water. Each group [case and control groups] was divided into three subgroups and the members of each subgroup were killed after 1, 2 and 3 weeks and their epididymides were removed. Motility, viability and DNA denaturation of caudal epididymal spermatozoa were examined in all groups. Data were analyzed using MannWitny U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: Lead reduce the motility and viability of spermatozoa one week after the injection. These effects of lead were disappeared three weeks after injection. In contrast to the effect of lead on motility and viability, it did not affect on DNA denaturation
Conclusion: Contamination with lead can reduce motility and viability of sperms but these effects will be disappeared by time. Lead can not create any changes on DNA denaturation of spermatozoa