Efeito protetor e/ou restaurador do chá da casca de noz-pecã (Carya illinoensis) sobre a espermatogênese de ratos wistar submetidos ao choque térmico testicular

Abstract

The directly heat applied on the testis has given new information about the mechanisms triggers of spermatogenesis damages. Pecan nut shell [Carya illinoensis (Wangenh) K. Koch], is a vegetal by-product with low cost and elevated antioxidant potential and therefore can be considered a promissory substance, because it is rich in polifenols, condensed tannins, flavonoids substances and proanthocyanidis. The aim of this study was to verify whether the pecan nut tea has been protective effects against deleterious actions, produced by heat in the testicular parenchyma and its capacity to accelerate the spermatogenesis recovery process. Forty-five male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus, var. albinus) were used and divided in three groups. The testicular heat shock (HS) were been applied in all animals. The first one group G1 hadn’t received pecan nut tea on its diet; the second G2, only received the cited tea before (HS) and the third group G3 received the pecan nut tea before and after HS. The animals were evaluated on 15, 30 and 60 days after heat shock according to histopathological and histometrical testis alterations as well plasmatic testosterone. The occurrence of oxidative stress (OS) was observed through the determination of lipid peroxidation (LP), measured by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Carbonil group, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C levels, catalase activity and protein content in testis were evaluated. In this work was observed a recover of testis weight recover in animals belong to G1 and G2 groups at 30 and 60 days. The epididymal weight of G3, at 15 and 30 days showed an improvement when related with G1 and G2 groups. The prostate and seminal gland weight in G2 and G3 had an improvement in weight when compared with G1 group, at 30 day. The pecan nut tea prevented a total Leydig cell volume reduction at 30 day post thermal injury. The total volume of seminiferous tubules was quickly recovered on G2 and G3 groups at 30 days than G1 group. The seminiferous tubule volume followed the same pattern of seminiferous tubule. Regarding to tunica propria and blood vessel, animals treated with pecan nut tea had a reduction of this parameter at 60 days. The total length of seminiferous tubules was maintained in animals that took continuously pecan nut tea. The plasmatic levels of testosterone were maintained at 15 days in G2 and G3 groups, and after that was noted a lower testosterone levels tendency at 30 and 60 days. By the other side, testosterone levels in animals of G1 group become higher gradually at 15 until 60 days. According to histopathological findings was noted that prior administration of pecan nut tea, before heat shock had better effect on recovery of spermatogenic process at 30 and 60 days. The treatment with pecan nut tea was able to prevent the TBARS increase and GSH depletion in testis. There weren’t significative changes on the plasmatic vitamin C levels, carbonil groups, catalase activity and protein content in the testis of animals.