Abstract
Objective:
To investigate the effect of saw palmetto extract (SPE) on the reproductive function of rats with chronic prostatitis (CP).
Methods:
Forty male SD rats were equally randomized into groups A (blank control), B (blank control + SPE, C (CP model control) and D (CP model + SPE), and the CP model was made by injection of 1% λ-carrageenan solution into the prostate. The animals in groups A and C were gavaged with normal saline while those in groups B and D with SPE at 0.10 g/kg/d, all for 30 successive days. After drug withdrawal, the rats were mated with female ones in the ratio of 1∶1) and sacrificed 7 days later, their bilateral epididymides collected for detection of sperm count and motility. The numbers of pregnancies and fetuses were recorded and compared among different groups.
Results:
Compared with the rats in group A, those in group C showed a marked decrease in epididymal sperm motility (［68.01 ± 1.80］% vs ［62.59 ± 4.82］%, P < 0.05), but those in groups B and D exhibited no statistically significant difference (［67.69 ± 4.06］% and ［67.93 ± 3.39］%, P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the count of epididymal sperm, rate of pregnancy and number of fetuses between group A and the other groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
SPE can improve the semen parameters of CP rats, and has no adverse effect on the rate of pregnancy and number of fetuses.
