The Effect of Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) on Spermatogenesis and Sexual Hormones in Male Mice

Background and Objective: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the long-standing herbs in traditional medicine known with many therapeutic properties. In this research, the effect of lettuce leaf extract on some reproductive traits such as testes weight and primary spermatocyte testosterone, LH and FSH in mice was investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, ۴۰ male mice were selected and were randomly divided into ۵ groups, including a control and ۳ treatment and placebo groups. Treatment groups of animals received three intraperitoneal lettuce extract in daily doses of ۲۵, ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg for ۲۰ days. Testosterone, LH and FSH tests implemented via Radioimmunoassay (RIA). The collected data analyzed by ANOVA and Duncanchr('۳۹')s test. Results: The results showed that the number of secondary spermatocytes (۴۲±۵) and concentrations of testosterone (۰.۰۸۸±۰.۰۲۳ ng/dl), LH (۰.۳±۰.۰۲ mIU/dl) and FSH (۱±۰.۱۲ mIU/dl) significantly reduced at ۱۰۰ mg/kg dose (P<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Considering the results, it seems that the compounds in lettuce extract can exert a negative effect on male mice reproductive physiology as a result of reduction in spermatocytes and reproductive hormones.

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Keywords: Lactuca sativa , Spermatocytes , Reproductive hormones , Male mice