Effect of maca(Lepidium meyenii) aqueous extract on the epididymal sperms quality and the DNA normality of vasectomized mature mice:model forobstructive azoospermia in men

Abstract

        This study was aimed to found out the effect of Maca extract on certain sperm function characters and sperm DNA normality in vasectomized and healthy adult mice as a model for men complaining from obstructive azoospermia. Twenty adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups (5males per each group).The first group(GI) was regarded as a negative control that treated with distilled water. Whereas group II  was gavage maca extract daily  with 1mg/100gm.GropIII,and IV were vasectomized . Mice in GIII were vasectomized without treatment while the mice in group GIV were vasectomized and orally administrated maca dose(1mg/100gm).At the last of experiment(35 days), all the mice were scarified for assessment of  certain sperm function parameters . The results revealed that a significant (P<0.05)improvement of  grade (A and B) of active sperm motility in mice treated  orally with  Maca extract was recorded compared with other groups, while grade (C) was significantly increase in vasectomized mice (GIIIgroup) as compared with other healthy mice . DNA fragmentation resulted from fertile mice gavages with maca  were reduced compared to healthy non-treated group and other  treated and non-treated vasectomized mice (GIII and GIVgroup).Orally administration of animals with Maca extract caused  a significant (p<0.05) improvement in  the percentage of  morphologically normal sperm compared with vasectomized  treated and non treated groups.

It is concluded that oral administration of  Maca extract caused a  significant increment in  certain sperm function parameters of vasectomized mice in turn this result can be utilized for  obstructive azoospermic men.