Effect of oral administration of Blepharis.Persica extracts on CATSPER gene expression and sperm parameters in rats with spinal cord injury

Objective The use of herbal medicines is even more common in East. Besides, more than half of all spinal cord injuries happen in individuals aged 15 to 30, most of whom are males (80 percent). Following spinal cord injuries, male fertility especially sperm parameters such as sperm movement decreases. Male fertility depends on different parameters, such as sperm count, motility, viability and epididymal sperm reserves as well as expression levels of cation channel sperm-associated protein 1, 2 (CATSPER1, 2). Additionally, Blepharis.persica seed extract traditionally used to promote male infertility. The purpose of the present study was to measure the effect of Blepharis.persica aqueous extract on some semen parameters and gene expression in male rats after SCI.   Materials and methods This experimental study was performed on 30 male Wistar rats which divided into 5 groups: one control, and four experimental groups. SCI rats orally treated with plant extract (100, 200 and 300mg Kg-1) daily for 15 days. Body weights, morphological features of testes (diameters of the seminiferous tubules), sperm parameters (motility, viability and epididymal sperm reserves) and CATSPER1, 2 gene expressions were assayed at 30th and 60th days and compared with control and SCI groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS software by one‐way ANOVA test and through Tukey's test (p < 0.05) was considered statistically significant.   Results The results of the present study demonstrated that the sperm viability, diameters of the seminiferous tubules increased significantly (4.89%) at 300 mg Kg-1 of Blepharis.persica aqueous extract. Expression levels of CATSPER1, 2 genes were significantly increased in experimental groups (p < 0.05).   Conclusions These results indicated that Blepharis.persica seed extract can improve the recovery of male fertility. This study could provide insights into consumption of plant extract in treatment of male infertility with SCI.