Effect of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil on male rat fertility

This study was undertaken to study the effect of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil (SKEO) in male rat fertility. SKEO was administered orally at doses of 75, 150, and 225 mg/kg/day for 45 days through drinking water. Treated and control rats were mated with female on day 45 of treatment. SKEO significantly improved all the parameters evaluated such as potency, fecundity, fertility index, and litter size. Moreover, concentrations of FSH and testosterone were significantly increased in SKEO-treated groups. Also the weights of testes, seminal vesicles, and ventral prostate weights were increased by SKEO (225 mg/kg). Histopathological analysis showed that in male rats treated with SKEO (150, 225 mg/kg) the number of spermatogonium, spermatid cords, Leydig cells, and spermatozoids was increased. Also in these groups, the Sertoli cells were hypertrophic. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.