Protective Effect of Rosa Canina Extract Against Doxorubicin-induced Testicular Toxicity in Mice

ABSTRACT

Abstract The present study was aimed to investigate the in vivo effects of Rosa canina extract on doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity in mice for the first time. Male NMRI mice were randomly divided into six treatment groups (10=per group) as follows (I) vehicles, (II) doxorubicin alone (3 mg/kg, i.p. on days 7, 14 and 21), (III and IV) Rosa canina extract alone (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg per day, i.p. for 28 days), (V and VI) Rosa canina extract plus doxorubicin (each dose given 1 h post Rosa canina). Doxorubicin-treated mice displayed smaller body and testicular weights, decreased serum levels of testosterone, loss in the number of germ cells and Sertoli cells, and reduced sperm count, viability, morphology and motility. Doxorubicin treatment significantly decreased the mean testis diameter, seminiferous tubular diameter and seminiferous epithelial height and increased seminiferous luminal diameter. However, Rosa canina pretreatment could effectively improve all of these abnormalities in doxorubicin- treated mice. The treatment with a higher dose of the extract (200 mg/kg) was more effective compared to doxorubicin and the lower dose of the extract. These findings suggested that the Rosa canina extract has protective effects against doxorubicin-induced reproductive toxicity.