Sains Malaysiana 40(11)(2011): 1243–1246

Effects of Gelam Honey on Sperm Quality and Testis of Rat

(Kesan Madu Gelam ke atas Kualiti Sperma dan Testis Tikus)

N.S. Syazana, N.H. Hashida*, A.M. Majid, H.A. Durriyyah Sharifah & M.Y. Kamaruddin

Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, Universiti Malaya

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 25 October 2010/ Accepted: 26 April 2011

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to elucidate the possible protective effects of Gelam honey on sperm quality and testis histology against infertility related problems. Control and treated groups of 4 - 5 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats were force-fed daily with 1.0 mL/100 g body weight of normal saline (0.9%) and Gelam honey, respectively. After 60 days of treatments, reproductive organs of the anesthetized rats were removed to assess sperm parameters and histology of testis. Sperm count of treated group was significantly higher (18.85±3.72×105/mL) than control group (17.05±3.12×105/mL) (p<0.05). Based on sperm morphology, treated group showed significantly higher percentage of normal sperm (96.83±0.03%) as compared to control group (94.87±0.01%) (p<0.01). Head and tail abnormalities sperm were also significantly reduced in the treated rats (p<0.05). The number of spermatogenic cells in testis of treated group were abundant as compared to control group. Seminiferous tubules of treated group were densely packed with spermatogenic cells with small lumen filled up with sperm tail. This study suggested that Gelam honey has the potential to increase the fertility of male rats by increasing sperm count and number of sperm with normal morphology.

Keywords: Honey; sperm quality; Sprague Dawley rats; testis histology

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan kemungkinan kesan pelindung madu Gelam ke atas kualiti Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan kemungkinan kesan pelindung madu gelam ke atas kualiti sperma dan histologi testis terhadap masalah-masalah berkaitan ketidaksuburan. Kumpulan kawalan dan perlakuan bagi tikus Sprague Dawley jantan berumur 4 - 5 minggu, masing-masing disuap-paksa setiap hari dengan 1.0 mL/100 g berat badan salin normal (0.9%) dan madu gelam. Selepas 60 hari tempoh perlakuan, organ pembiakan tikus yang telah dibius dikeluarkan untuk menilai parameter sperma dan histologi testis. Bilangan sperma bagi kumpulan perlakuan adalah lebih tinggi secara signifikannya (18.85±3.72×105/mL) berbanding kumpulan kawalan (17.05±3.12×105/mL) (p<0.05). Keabnormalan kepala dan ekor sperma juga berkurang secara tekal dalam tikus perlakuan (p<0.05). Berdasarkan kepada morfologi sperma, kumpulan perlakuan menunjukkan peratusan sperma normal yang lebih tinggi secara signifikannya (96.83±0.03%) berbanding dengan kumpulan kawalan (94.87±0.01%) (p<0.01). Bilangan sel-sel spermatogenik dalam testis kumpulan perlakuan adalah sangat banyak berbanding dengan kumpulan kawalan. Tubul seminiferus kumpulan perlakuan adalah tersusun padat dengan sel-sel spermatogenik dalam lumen yang kecil dipenuhi dengan ekor sperma. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa madu gelam mempunyai potensi untuk meningkatkan kesuburan bagi tikus jantan dengan meningkatkan bilangan sperma dan bilangan sperma dengan morfologi normal.

Kata kunci: Histologi testis; kualiti sperma; madu; tikus Sprague Dawley

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*Corresponding author; email: nhhpasum@um.edu.my