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β-Caryophyllene as putative male contraceptive: enhances spermatogenesis but not spermiogenesis in albino rats

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Abstract

β-Caryophyllene (β-Car) is a natural antioxidant. It is Cannabis-derived cannabinoid receptors type 2 (CB2R) agonist. CBR2 are expressed in germ cells within the testes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of β-Car on the male rat body weight, sex organ weight, sperm count, motility and morphology, and on the histology and the ultrastructure of the testes and the cauda epididymides. Moreover, we compared these effects with the results of the reversible infertility inducer: metronidazole (MTZ). Sexually mature male rats were divided into five groups that received intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg β-Car, 40 mg/kg MTZ, distilled water, tween 80 in normal saline solution (10 % v/v), or did not receive any treatment for an experimental period of 30 days. Cauda epididymal sperm suspensions were used to assess the sperm count, motility, and morphology. Histological and ultrastructural studies were performed on testes and cauda epididymides. Treatment with β-Car (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the final body weight, but did not affect the sex organ weight. It resulted in a significant decrease in cauda epididymal sperm count, percentages of motile sperms, and sperms with normal morphology. Nevertheless, it neither affected the histology nor the ultrastructure of the testes or the cauda epididymides of the treated rats. As a CB2R, β-Car could be a promising natural male contraceptive, because 30-day treatment with 10 mg/kg β-Car did not affect spermatogenesis but negatively affected spermiogenesis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the deanship of scientific research at the University of Jordan and the scientific research support fund/Jordanian Ministry of Higher education for funding this work. Appreciation is also to Isra University, Amman, Jordan, because the laboratory animals’ part of this research was conducted in Isra University animal house and laboratories. The authors thank Dr. Rasha Abu Eid for review of the manuscript and valuable suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, P. O. Box 22, Amman, 11622, Jordan

    Zina M. Al-Alami

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

    Ziad A. Shraideh

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

    Mutasem O. Taha

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  1. Zina M. Al-Alami
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  2. Ziad A. Shraideh
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  3. Mutasem O. Taha
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Correspondence to Zina M. Al-Alami.

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Al-Alami, Z.M., Shraideh, Z.A. & Taha, M.O. β-Caryophyllene as putative male contraceptive: enhances spermatogenesis but not spermiogenesis in albino rats. Med Chem Res 24, 3876–3884 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-015-1428-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-015-1428-3

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