Effect of seahorse (<i>Hippocampus comes</i> L.) extract on population and apoptotic of spermatogenic and leydig cells in rats after depot medroxyprogesterone acetate induction

Abstract

The Seahorse Hippocampus comes L. (HC) has been used in traditional medicine and has pharmacological activities known as a powerful aphrodisiac. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a contraceptive drug that can reduce testosterone levels, as happened to hypogonadism. There has not been much research on HC extracts (HCE) for hypogonadism, especially in the histology of testicular cell study. This study investigates the effect of HCE on spermatogenic cell count and Fas L assay of apoptotic germ cells after DMPA treatment in rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were induced with DMPA 1.25 mg/kg at weeks 0 and 12. Animals were randomly grouped by: distilled water (G1), Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 1% (G2), HCE dose 150 mg/kg (G3), HCE dose 225 mg/kg (G4), HCE 300 mg/kg (G5), gavage every day for 7-18 weeks. The testis was obtained, and tissue was processed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Data were assessed by manually counting cells into the formulation and determining the H-score to calculate Fas L protein expression. An enhancement of the preleptotene and pachytene spermatocyte population at G3-G4 dose levels was found. Leydig cells also showed an increase at the G4 dose level. However, the apoptotic cell H-score was reduced at the G4 dose level. The reported HCE 225 mg/kg dose can improve reproductive function after DMPA treatment for 18 weeks in male rats.