Lectin Histochemical Study of Rat Reproductive Tissues Treated with Ether Fraction of Anethum graveolens L. Extracts

Introduction: Nowadays, there is special interest in finding a new contraceptive drug with high safety and fewer side effects. Investigations have shown that dill (Anethum graveolens L.) can be used either as a menstrual cycle regulator or contraceptive. Since cell surface terminal sugars have crucial roles in oocyte maturation, fertilization and implantation, in this study we investigated the effects of ether fraction of dill seed extracts on ovarian and uterine cell surface glycoconjugates.  Methods: Adult Wistar female rats were divided into 6 groups: control, sham, low (0.5 g/kg) and high (5 g/kg) doses of ether fraction of dill seed aqueous extract and low (0.045 g/kg) and high (0.45 g/kg) doses of ether fraction of dill seed ethanol extracts and treated for 10 days. Histological sections of uterus and ovary were prepared and stained by Con A, DBA, SBA, UEA, and PNA lectins. Intensity of reactions of uterine and glycoconjugates of ovarian cell surfaces was measured by Image-Java software.  Results: The intensity of reactions of endometrial epithelial cells (P=0.01 and P =0.00) and myometrial cells (P=0.02 and P=0.03) after Con A and DBA staining were significantly lower in the high-dose aqueous extract treated group than in the control group. Corpus luteum granulosa cell reactions in low doses of aqueous extract (P =0.01) and corpus luteum granulosa cell and oocytes in high doses of aqueous extract (P =0.02 and P =0.04) were decreased compared to the control group.  Conclusion: Ether fraction of dill extracts, especially in the form of aqueous extract, could affect cell surface terminal sugar.