The effects of tualang honey on male reproductive system of high cholesterol diet Rat model

Abstract

Hypercholesterolaemia is a recognised factor associated with male infertility. However, currently, there is limited therapy available. Tualang honey (TH) is a type of Malaysian polyfloral wild honey produced by the rock bee (Apis dorsata) that has been proven to exert both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of TH on the male reproductive system of high cholesterol diet (CD) administered rats. Fifty-four Sprague Dawley rats weighing 200 - 250 gm were randomly divided into the standard diet (control) group (n=6), mixed cholesterol diet (MCD) group, and high cholesterol diet (HCD) group (n=24 each). The six rats in the control group were fed with standard commercial rat pellet while the 48 rats in the MCD and HCD groups were fed with a 12% cholesterol diet for 16 weeks. At the end of the 16 weeks, the 24 rats in the MCD group, divided into four subgroups (group M1, M2, M3 and M4) were continued on the standard diet in addition to oral administration of distilled water, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.0 g of honey per kg body weight daily respectively as a supplement for 4 weeks. The other 24 rats in the HCD group were also divided into four subgroups (group H1, H2, H3 and H4) and continued on the 12% high cholesterol diet in addition to oral administration of distilled water, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.0 g of honey per kg body weight daily respectively for 4 weeks. The rats in the control group were continued with commercial rat pellets without honey supplementation. At the end of the 4 weeks, all rats were sacrificed and for each of the rat blood specimen was taken for biochemical analysis while the left testis and epididymis were collected for histology and sperm analysis. The follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) level, relative epididymal weight and all the sperm parameters (sperm concentration, the percentage of total sperm motility, progressive motility, normal sperm morphology, and viability) of rats in group H1 were significantly reduced compared to the control. All the sperm analysis parameters of group M1 also demonstrated significant reduction compared to the control. On the contrary, all TH supplemented groups demonstrated significant improvement in the sperm parameters. The higher the dosage of TH in both HCD and MCD groups, the greater the improvements in the sperm concentrations, sperm viability, and normal sperm morphology. For the testicular histological analysis, the mean Johnsen score was 10 for all the groups indicating no abnormalities. In conclusion, the TH supplementation improved the sperm analysis results in the HCD animal model.