Chronic crude garlic-feeding modified adult male rat testicular markers: mechanisms of action

doi:10.1186/1477-7827-7-65

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Volume 7

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Benahmed M
El May MV
Mauduit C

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Research

Chronic crude garlic-feeding modified adult male rat testicular markers: mechanisms of action

Imen Hammami¹^,2 , Souheila Amara² , Mohamed Benahmed² , Michèle V El May¹ and Claire Mauduit³

¹Unité de recherche n° 01/UR/08-07, Faculté de Médecine, 15 rue Djebel Lakhdar, 1007 Tunis; Tunisie

²Inserm, U407, Oullins, F-69921, France; Université de Lyon, Oullins, F-69921, France; Université Lyon 1, Oullins, F-69921, France

³Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Laboratoire d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologique, Pierre-Bénite Cedex F-69495, France

author email corresponding author email

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2009, 7:65doi:10.1186/1477-7827-7-65


Published:	24 June 2009

Abstract

Background

Garlic or Allium sativum (As) shows therapeutic effects such as reduction of blood pressure or hypercholesterolemia but side-effects on reproductive functions remain poorly investigated. Because of garlic's chemical complexity, the processing methods and yield in preparations differ in efficacy and safety. In this context, we clarify the mechanisms of action of crushed crude garlic on testicular markers.

Methods

During one month of treatment, 24 male rats were fed 5%, 10% and 15% crude garlic.

Results

We showed that crude garlic-feeding induced apoptosis in testicular germ cells (spermatocytes and spermatids). This cell death process was characterized by increased levels of active CASP3 but not CASP6. Expression of the caspase inhibitors BIRC3 and BIRC2 was increased at all doses of As while expression of XIAP and BIRC5 was unchanged. Moreover, expression of the IAP inhibitor DIABLO was increased at doses 10% and 15% of As. The germ cell death process induced by As might be related to a decrease in testosterone production because of the reduced expression of steroidogenic enzymes (Star, Cyp11a, Hsd3b5 and Hsd17b). Evaluation of Sertoli markers showed that TUBB3 and GSTA2 expression was unchanged. In contrast, AMH, RHOX5 and CDKN1B expression was decreased while GATA4 expression was increased.

Conclusion

In summary, we showed that feeding with crude garlic inhibited Leydig steroidogenic enzyme expression and Sertoli cell markers. These alterations might induce apoptosis in testicular germ cells.