Effect of L-Carnitine in amelioration of hormonal profile and sperm parameter disorder in cimetidine-treated rats

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of L-Carnitine on sperm quality and hormonal profile in rats treated with cimetidine. Mature thirty adult male laboratory (8-10 weeks) rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group C1 was given tap water; group C2 animals were given cimetidine (150mg/kg i.p.) daily for 65 days, and group C3 animals were given L- Carnitine (200mg/kg i.p.) and cimetidine (150mg/kg i.p.) daily for 65 days. At the ending of the treatment period, blood was taken to determine the levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in the serum. Body weight was recorded, then the animals were anesthetized. Histological sections of the right testis were prepared for histopathological examination, including the thickness and diameter of seminiferous tubules, as well as the number of Leydig's cells. While samples taken from the epididymis of the left testes were used for the estimation of sperm evaluation parameters. Cimetidine caused a significant decrease in serum testosterone, FSH, and LH concentrations, as well as a significant decrease in the ratio of testis' weight to body weight and sperm parameters (count, viability, and morphology) compared to other treated groups. Furthermore, a histological inspection of the testes indicated a significant increase in the thickness of epithelial cells and the diameter of seminiferous tubules of the testes and a reduction in the number of Leydig's cells. Whereas, the results showed that LC has a positive effect on improving previous parameters against cimetidine (C3) via a significant increment in hormone concentration, sperm parameters (count, viability, and morphology), and thus the number of Leydig's cells. Besides, LC reduced the deleterious effects of cimetidine on testicular tissues represented by a normal arrangement of seminiferous tubules with more and/or less complete spermatogenesis, the thickness of interstitial tissue in most seminiferous tubules, as well as the normal structure of the epididymis filled with normal sperm.