Ameliorative potentials of a combination of fenugreek and alpha-tocopherol on cadmium induced testicular toxicity: an ultrastructural study

"> Background: The current study aimed to elucidate the protective role of combined fenugreek and a-tocopherol against cadmium induced histopathological
changes in the testes.
Materials and methods: Thirty adult male albino rats divided into three equal
groups 10 rats each. Group I is the control group. Group II received 5 mg/kg/day
cadmium chloride. Group III received 5 mg/kg/day cadmium chloride and 150
mg/kg/day fenugreek and 100 mg/kg/day of a-tocopherol. The treatment of all
groups was done by oral gavage for 60 consecutive days. The testes were removed
and subjected to histopathological and ultrastructure study.
Results: Rats exposed to cadmium showed severe histopathological changes in
the testicular spermatogenic series, many vacuoles and multinucleated giant cells.
Treatment with fenugreek and a-tocopherol partially improved the morphological
changes, reduced tissue damage and rebuilt of the spermatogonia layer.
Conclusions: Fenugreek and a-tocopherol might represent a promising medicinal
combination to ameliorate the toxic effects of cadmium exposure. (Folia Morphol
2015; 74, 3: 325–334)
Key words: cadmium chloride, fenugreek, a-tocopherol, seminiferous
epithelium, ultrastructure