Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Echinacea purpurea extract on sperm characteristics following testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.
Materials and Methods: To evaluate this hypothesis, 30 adult rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operations, I/R group and 3 groups of treatment with E. purpurea extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). To achieve testicular I/R, torsion (720°) of spermatic cord for 2 hours and reperfusion of the tests for 24 hours were performed. Treatment was done by intraperitoneal injection of 3 different doses of E. purpurea extract, 1 hour after ischemia. Then, the sperm count, motility and mobility were determined.
Results: There was a significant increase in sperm count, motility and mobility in treatment groups compared to I/R group (P<0.05). Treatment with E. purpurea extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the adverse effect of testicular I/R on sperm mortality compared to the control group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in hemograms.
Conclusions: These results confirmed beneficial effects of E. purpurea extract on sperm characteristics after testicular I/R injury in rats
