Study of Spermatogenesis in Wistar Adult Rats Administrated to Long Term of Ruta graveolens

Background: In Iranian folk medicine Ruta graveolens has been used for female and male contraceptive. There are few studies about the effect of this plant on spermatogenesis. Objectives: In this study the effect of long term administration of aqueous extract of RG on spermatogenesis has been investigated. Materials and Methods: Animals were allocated into 1) control: which did not receive anything, 2) vehicle which received only normal saline and 3) experiment: which received Ruta extract (300 mg/kg administered by gavage once a day for 100 days). A day after last gavage all the individuals were killed by euthanasia. The right testes and epididymis were extruded. The sperm motility was assessed and classified as progressive, no progressive. Results: There was a significant decrease in the number of spermatogonia (P < 0.01), primary spermatocyte (P < 0.05) and spermatid (P < 0.05) in experimental group as compared to control and vehicle. As shown in Table 3 the sperm count ± SD in 1 gram of epididymis was 2597.5 ± 172.39 in vehicle, 2671.8 ± 38.57 in control groups and 607.4 ± 520.19 in experimental group. Therefore group 3 has a significant lower sperm count in comparison with other groups (P < 0.05). Sperm with progressive motility was 55.25 ± 2.81 in vehicle, 53.42±1.82 in control group and 11.16 ± 2.17 in experimental group. Statistical analysis show that rats in experimental group have a significant lower sperm motility in comparison with other groups (P < 0.05). There was no difference between other groups (P > 0.05).The fertilization capacity of sperm of rats in experimental group was significantly lower than other groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: It is concluded that the aqueous extract of Ruta graveolens diminishes the reproductive system activity and might be a useful substance for birth control process.