Evaluation of male infertility treatment followingRhus coriariaextract administration on rats exposed to morphine

Morphine is the most common analgesic drug that is widely used in post-operative interventions. This drug causes free radical accumulation leading to spermatogenesis failure. Antioxidant agents likeSumach(Rhus coriaria) neutralize cellular free radicals. In this study, the properties of antioxidative, modulative of inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic genes followingSumachextract administration on morphine-induced fertility destruction in male Wistar rats was evaluated. Sixty-four animals were grouped (n = 8) including; 1: control, 2: morphine, 3-5:Sumach(200, 400, 800 mg/kg), and 6-8: morphine + Sumach. Hydroalcoholic extract of Sumach seeds was prepared. Treatments withSumachextract were applied orally and intraperitoneally daily for 8 weeks. TheP53,Bcl2andcaspase-3genes expression were measured by real-time PCR. Cytokines involved in inflammation were evaluated by ELISA. Sperm parameters, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), testosterone, and germinal layer height (GLH) were assessed. All parameters (investigated in this study) in Morphine group reduced significantly than the control group (P< 0.01) (except P53 and caspase-3 genes expression and inflammatory cytokine which were improved). All factors inSumachandSumach + Morphine groups were significantly enhanced compared to the Morphine group (P< 0.01) (except P53 and caspase-3 genes expression and inflammatory cytokine which were declined). Morphine disrupted the physiological function of male fertility system. Besides, all doses ofSumachshowed no therapeutic changes compared to the control group.Sumachwith anti-infertility features compensates the toxic effect of Morphine administration.