Low-dose cucumber juice improved spermatozoa motility of Albino rats in the short term only

Effect of fresh cucumber juice on spermatozoa motility in male albino rats

Abstract

The status of spermatozoa characteristics is often a strong consideration for the use or rejection of an ejaculate at breeding stations. The reproductive effects of several plant materials on animal species have been documented. Cucumber is widely consumed by man for its numerous health benefits however, literature is scant on its reproductive effects in mammals. This research examined the impacts of oral delivery of cucumber juice on some spermatozoa characteristics in the albino rat. Fresh cucumber fruit (300g) was rinsed in water, thoroughly blended, and sieved using a muslin bag to obtain the filtrate. Sixty male albino rats (150-170g) were equally randomized into four groups. A, B, C, and D and administered with 1.5, 1.0, 0.5mls (of filtrate), and 1.0ml distilled water, respectively, during days 0 – 6 of the study. On days 7 (short-term), 14 (moderate term), and 21 (long-term), spermatozoa were collected from the caudal epididymides of the rats to assess the motility (SM %), viability (SV %), and morphological abnormalities (SA %). Results for Group A rats showed that the SM on days 7 (72.00±2.00%) and 21 (70.00±4.08%) were not significantly (P>0.05) different but were higher (P<0.05) than 65.00±2.89% obtained on day 14. For group B rats, the SM on days 14 and 21 were the same (80.00±0.00%) and comparatively higher (P>0.05) than (76.67±3.33%) obtained on day 7. For group C rats, the SM on days 14 (66.00±2.45%) and 21 (68.00±2.00%) were comparable but lower (P<0.05) than 93.00±1.22% obtained on day 7. For group D rats, the SM obtained on days 7 (88.00±4.64%) 14, (86.09±0.41%), and 21 (89.00±1.02%) did not differ significantly (P>0.05). The values obtained for SV and SA on days 7, 14, and 21 for all rats in these studies were only comparable (P>0.05).

Findings suggest that oral administration of cucumber juice did not cause any significant changes in spermatozoa viability and morphological abnormalities, however, its low dose improved spermatozoa motility in the short term.