Effect of Paracetamol on Spermatozoa Characteristics and Testis Histology along with the Protective Role of Trigonella foenum-graecum in Mus musculus
Chahat Kumari
Department of Zoology, T. M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.
Md. Equbal Ahmad *
Department of Zoology, T. M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Prolonged paracetamol (PC) exposure may adversely affect male reproductive function. This study evaluated the effects of PC on spermatozoa characteristics and testicular histology in Mus musculus and assessed the protective role of aqueous fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extract. Adult Swiss albino mice were assigned to a control group, a PC-treated group receiving 112.3 mg/kg PC once daily for 28 days, and a PC + fenugreek group receiving 112.3 mg/kg PC with 100 mg/kg fenugreek extract for 28 days. PC treatment produced only slight changes in testis weight and the testiculosomatic index but markedly affected sperm parameters. Sperm count declined from 118.4 ± 6.1 × 10⁴/ml in controls to 83 ± 1.9 × 10⁴/ml in the PC group, while sperm abnormalities increased from 10.66 ± 0.93% to 43.2 ± 1.7%. Histological examination of PC-treated testes showed irregular and shrunken seminiferous tubules, disorganisation of the germinal epithelium, reduced luminal sperm content, and degenerative changes. Co-administration of fenugreek increased sperm count to 105 ± 4.6 × 10⁴/ml and reduced sperm abnormalities to 21.8 ± 1.52%. Histological observations also showed partial restoration of seminiferous tubule architecture and spermatogenic activity. The findings indicate that PC impaired the evaluated reproductive parameters in male mice, whereas fenugreek supplementation was associated with partial recovery.
Keywords: Paracetamol, fenugreek, Mus musculus, sperm abnormalities, testicular histology, reproductive toxicity