Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale R.) on metiram-inhibited spermatogenesis and induced apoptosis in albino mice

The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale R.) on metiram fungicide induced testicular damage in albino mice was studied. Treating mice with metiram at a dose level of 1/10 LD50 (284 mg/kg body weight) daily for 6 weeks affected the testicular tissue. The diameters of the seminiferous tubules and heights of their germinal epithelium were significantly reduced. In addition, spermatogenesis was inhibited as indicated by the decrease of the number of different spermatogenic cells. Histological observations revealed degeneration of spermatogenic cells, congestion of blood vessels and destruction of Leydig cells. Evidences of apoptosis were observed in large number of basal germ cells. Moreover, significant higher numbers of Bax-positive germ cells and Leydige cells was recorded in metiram-treated mice. These results indicated that metiram affected spermatogenesis. Treating animals with metiram followed by ginger revealed an improvement in the histological changes observed in animals treated with metiram. Moreover, ginger treatment leads to a decrease in the percent of apoptotic cells and in the number of bax-positive cells. According to the present results, it is concluded that combined treatment with metiram and ginger can improve the histological alterations and reduce apoptosis in testis of mice. The ameliorative effect of Z.officinale against testicular damage induced by metiram may be due to its antioxidant properties.