Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different doses of aqueous extract of marjoram on spermatogenesis and sperm concentration in cadmium oxidative damage due to the antioxidant quality of extract.
Methods: In the intervational- experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Control group, T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups. In the group of T1, 2mg/kg Chloride Cadmium was administered intraperitonialy; T2, T3 and T4 groups, in addition to the chloride cadmium the extract of marjoram at 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg intraperitoneal was administered, respectively, for 10 days. Then, on the last day, after blood collection and separation of serum, TCA was measured. Sperm numbers and percentage of sperm twisted tail were counted in the right epididymis. After measuring the right and left testicular weight and diameter, malondialdehyde and histological studies were examined. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA analysis and Tukey’s test using SPSS 21.
Results: The highest number and percentage of sperm membrane integrity was in the control group and in T4 (doses of 125 mg/kg of extract) and the lowest in the group receiving cadmium (T1) and this different was significant (P<0.05). The highest concentration of MDA was in the T1 group and the lowest in the group of the dose of 500 mg/kg (T2), respectively. The TCA concentration was the lowest in T1 and highest in T2. The most average sertoli, spermatogonia, spermatocets and Leydic cells was in the control group and the group of 250 mg/kg doses of extract, but the lowest was observed in T1.
Conclusion: The aqueous extract of marjoram with an appropriate dose can have a positive effect on spermatogenesis and control testicular tissue oxidative stress by cadmium