Abstract

It is suggested that Date Palm Pollen (DPP) increases the concentration of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in rats. We therefore planned this study to examine the effect of DPP on spermatogenesis using prepubertal rats. 4-day old rats were randomly divided into four groups of 12 pups each (Control I, Experimental I, Control II, and Experimental II). Experimental groups I and II were given DPP suspension in a single oral dose of 120 mg/kg daily for 18 and 35 days, respectively. Pups were sacrificed on days 22 and 39 post-natally. Testes were removed for microscopic studies, and spermatogenesis was assessed by a method which depended upon scoring ‘cross sectional’ profiles of seminiferous tubules according to Johnsen’s criterion. There was no statistically significant difference in Control and Experimental groups I. However Pups of the treated group II, who received DPP for 35 days, showed statistically significant increase in seminiferous tubules containing spermatozoa, resulting in a higher Johnsen Score (Control group II: 6.28 ± 0.21, Experimental group II: 8.06 ± 1.21). This implied that spermatogenesis was present at an advanced stage in the Experimental group as compared to the Control group of animals.

Key words: Spermatogenesis, infertility, testes.