الفهرس 
Aim of StudyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 186 |  |  |
| | | from | 186 | | |
Abstract
Fertility is the natural human capability of producing offspring. Infertility is defined as one year of regular and unprotected intercourse without conception. The increase in male infertility has become a source of global concern. These have been attributed to factors such as smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages, obesity, stress, poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Nutritional status, as a major lifestyle factor, is crucial determinants of normal reproductive function.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of maca root on chloropyrifos induced testicular toxicity in male albino mice.
Maca roots powder (Lepidium meyenii) were purchased ready and free of saponins from Shana, Shibin El-kom, Menoufia, Egypt.
The current study was performed on a total of thirty adult male Sprague Dawley rats, average body weight (170 ± 10 g). The rats were housed into 5 groups each of 6 rats. Rats were divided into the following groups:
• group (1): Negative Control Group- normal group- (6 rats), in this group rats were kept on standard diet and tap water
• group (2): Positive control group, in this group rats were induced by 38 ml\kg body weight by Chlorpyrifos (CPF) for four weeks to induce testes impaired subfertility rats.
• group (3): Subfertility rats treated with 5% maca roots powder.
• group (4): Subfertility rats treated with 10% maca roots powder.
• group (5): Subfertility rats treated with 15% maca roots powder.
At the end of the experimental (28 days) the following was done:
• Rats were weighted, and then body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio were calculated.
• Blood samples were collected after 12 hours fasting then centrifuged to separate the serum which used for the following:
- Liver function (AST, ALT).
- Lipid profile (triglyceride - total cholesterol - LDL-c – HDL-c – VLDL-c).
- Sexual hormones (testosterone, LH and FSH).
- Creatinine.
- Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA).
• The organs: Heart, kidney, liver, lungs, spleen and testes were removed, cleaned and weighted. Testes were stored in 10% formalin solution for histopathological examination.
The obtained results showed that:
Biological Results:
• Due to subfertility rats BWG, FI and FER were increased.
• The best treatment was that of maca root powde (15%) diet compared to control (+) group.
The effect on organs weight.
• There were significant increases in relative liver, spleen, lungs, heart, kidneys and testes weights of rats injected with CPF as compared to control (-) group.
• Rats fed on group 5 (Maca root powder15%) showed the highest mean value of liver, spleen, lungs, heart, kidneys and testes when compared to control (+).
The effect on liver functions.
• Rats injected with CPF was damaging to the liver function as indicated by the rise of AST and ALT. Nevertheless feeding on maca root powder corrected the change of AST and ALT. The best serum AST and ALT was recorded for group 5 (maca root powder 15%) when compared to control (+).
The effect on lipid profile.
• Rats injected with CPF significantly increases in the serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG), which were decreased when rats injected with CPF and fed on diet containing the maca root powder. Best of serum TC and TG was recorded for group 5 (maca root powder 15%).
• The best serum of HDL was found in rats was found in group 5 (maca root powder 15%) when compared to control (+).
• LDL and VLDL level increased markedly in the serum of rats injected with CPF. Feeding on maca root powder decreased the levels. The best group of LDL and VLDL was recorded for group 5 (maca root powder 15%) when compared to control (+).
The effect on sexual hormones.
• Inflicting with CPF injection reduced the sexual hormones testosterone , FSH and LH. When feeding with (5, 10 & 15% maca root powder) increased these hormones.
• The best effect on testosterone, FSH and LH hormones recorded for infertility rats fed maca roots powde (15%) when compared to control (+) group.