Tetrahidrocannabinol (THC) administration has been associated with testicular damage and reduced semen quality. The oral administration of hypocotyl- roots of MACA improved spermatogenesis, sperm motility and count and reduced spermatogenic damage induced by different causes (high altitude, lead acetate injections, malathion). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of administration of THC, MACA and of their association on testicular tissue and semen parameters.
Thirty 6-weeks old male c57/BL mice were divided into 4 groups: 1) control mice that not received any treatment (n=6); 2) received 10 mg/kg of Δ9-THC in 0.1 ml of sesam oil subcutaneously for 30 days (n=9); 3) received 50 mg/Kg of MACA powder PO for 30 days (n=10); 4) received the same doses of both Δ9-THC and MACA (n=5). Immediately after euthanasia, epididymis, testes, liver and kidney were collected. Epydidimiswas incised and placed into 500 µl of PBS solution. Spermatozoa were allowed to swim-up into the medium for at least 30 minutes at 35°C. Sperm concentration (SC) was determined with a Bürker chamber; total (TM), rapid (RPM) and slow progressive (SPM) sperm motilities were assessed by placing 10 µl of pre-warmed (37°C) semen suspension onto a pre-warmed slide and examined by light microscope.
Testes, liver, kidney and colon were preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin), dehydrated and embedded in paraffin Paraffin blocks were cut into 4 μm thick sections and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for morphology. For liver, kidney and colon histologic assessment, several parameters were semiquantitatively evaluated separately by two independent experienced pathologists in a blinded fashion with good concordance (Cohen’s κ = 0.913, P