In this experimental study, harmful effects of formaldehyde (FA) inhalation on
sperm concentration, sperm quality, serum testosterone levels and the rat testes
were investigated. In addition, the possible protective effects of rose oil against
to these harmful effects were evaluated. For this purpose, 21 albino-Wistar rats
were used. The rats in Group I were used as control group. When the rats of
Group II were exposed FA (10 ppm/1 h) for 35 days, the rats of Group III
inhalated rose oil (1 ml/1 h) after FA. The epididymal tissues were taken for
sperm analysing and the testes were removed for histological examination. In
addition, testosterone levels were determined from the blood samples.
Although the testosterone levels, the epididymal sperm concentration, and the
progressive sperm motility significantly decreased, the abnormal sperm rate
significantly increased in the Group II when compared to Group I. In the
Group III, these damages were seen less. When the rats in the Group II
compared with the control group, there were serious histological damages. In
the Group III, it was determined that the histological changes were less than
group II. It can be expressed that serious damages occurred via formaldehyde
exposure in male reproductive system and that the rose oil had protective
effects against these damages