The effect of methanolic extract of Avocado seed on total number of spermatogonia in type II diabetic mice

Objectives: Failure of male reproduction is a long time recognised consequence of diabetes mellitus, and it is accepted that infertility is a common complication in diabetic men but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. It is also known that in diabetes; the cellular defence against toxic free radicals is reduced. Avocado (Persea americana) is a medical plant that has traditionally been used due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic effect. Materials Methods: In this study, 40 adult male mice were divided into 8 groups including: control, diabetic, 3 sham and 3 treatment groups. Diabetes type 2 was induced by high fat diet and low dose of streptozotocin. One week after streptozotocin injection, sham and treatment groups received 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg methanolic extract of avocado seed for 40 consecutive days via oral gavage. Finally, animals sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and then left testes were fixed in buffered formalin 10%, processed by standard and routine paraffin embedding. Sections were stained by H E and stereological studies were performed. Total number of spermatogonia was estimated by optical fractionators and stereo investigator system using an unbiased counting frame. One-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey post hoc performed for data analysis.Results Conclusion: Results indicated that extract had no significant effect on total number of spermatogonia in normal mice. Stereological studies showed that diabetes significantly decreased total number of spermatogonia compared to control animals (p 0.01). Data analysis also revealed that extract could improve this reduction in a dose-dependent manner. Total number of spermatogonia had no significant differences in diabetic animals treated by 100 and 150 mg/kg extract compared to normal mice. Based on our results it can be concluded that administration of methanolic extract of avocado seed has a suitable porotective effect against type2 diabetes side effect on population of spermatogonia cells.