The effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium on chemotherapy-induced changes in mice testes

Background and Aim : The cyclophosphamide (CP) ,an alkylating cytotoxic drug, is used as chemotherapeutic agent in a wide ranges of diseases. Despite its wide spectrum of clinical applications, it induces side effects, including reproductive toxicity. The Achillea millefolium (AM) is a well-recognized medicinal plants with powerful antioxidant property. This study was planned to evaluate the effects of AM inflourecenes hydroalcoholic extract against testicular tissue changes following CP exposure in mice. Methods : For this study 24 adult and healthy NMRI (National Medical Research Institute) male mice with mean weight 30 ± 1, were arranged into 3 groups each with 8 mice. The group 1 as control received (5 ml/kg, daily) Normal Saline, the group 2, received CP (5mg/kg, daily) and group 3 received CP (5mg/kg, daily) + AM hydroalcoholic extract (75mg/kg, daily). In all the groups the daily treatments were through gavages, for 35 days. 24 hours after last treatment, all of mice weighed, then mice were euthanized and autopsied and testes were weighed after separation. In order to evaluate the tissue changes in testes of the mice, sections were prepared and stained with H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosine) staining techniques. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tuckey test. Results : In the mice which have been received CP, the body weight and testes weight are significantly (P<0.001) reduced in comparison to the control. This drug has induced negative possessions on the spermatogenic indices and morphometric parameters. The morphologic changes in the testes of this group including atrophy of the SFTs (Solitary fibrous tumours), vacuolization of germinal epithelial cells, increase in basal membrane thickness and its breakdown, vacuolization, hyperemia, liquid accumulation (edema) and increase in interstitial spaces. In group 3, body weight and testes weight was significantly increased compared to the 2 group (P<0/01). Conclusion : The findings of this study indicating that, the CP through disturbing oxidation- reduction balance causes reproductive toxicity in male mice, whereas, the AM inflourecenes hydroalcoholic extract more likely through inhibition of free radicals production and oxidative reactions, reduces adverse effects of chemotherapy (with CP) on body weight, testes weight and testicular tissue changes induces ameliorative possessions against such unwanted effects.

Achillea millefolium, Cyclophosphamide, Mice, Testicular tissue.