RESUMO
Ribavirin [RBV] is a broad spectrum antiviral drug. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of RBV and the possible protective effect of Zingiber Officinale [ginger]. Sixty adult male albino rats were grouped into six groups [ten rats each]. Groups received distilled water ginger alone, 20mg/kg RBV, 100mg/kg RBV, 20mg/kg RBV+100 mg/kg ginger and 100 mg/kg RBV+ 100mg/kg ginger intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days respectively. The last two groups continued receiving ginger alone for additional 42 days then sacrificed. Reproductive toxicity was evaluated through determining the testicular weight changes, epididymal sperm count as well as sperm morphological changes. Testicular tissues were examined under light microscope for assessment of any pathological structural changes. The result revealed that: testicular weight only showed significant decrease in high dose RBV treated group, Sperm count was significantly lowered in the two RBV treated groups [P < 0.05]. The two used RBV doses induced significant increase in the number of abnormal sperms [P<0.05]. The incidence of sperm morphological anomalies was dose dependent. Results also revealed that administration of 100 mg ginger/kg/day significantly corrected the decrease in the testicular weight and the lowered sperm count to nearly normal levels. Moreover, ginger treatment lowered the total number of abnormal sperms even though the anomalies were still significantly higher than the control. Histopathologically, RBV induced gaps, vacuoles, and sloughing of the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous epithelium. The observed pathological defects showed complete recovery by continued ginger treatment. Our findings suggest that RBV is a toxic agent for rat testes and epididymis as it has serious effects on sperm count and sperm morphology. Ginger treatment exhibited beneficial effects enhancing sperm healthy parameters