This study aimed to evaluate testicular toxicity induced by hydroxyurea (HU) and the possible counteracting effect of an aqueous extract of Cistanche deserticola (CD). HU is an antineoplastic drug that has potential reproductive toxicity, and Herba Cistanche has been used as a tonic for the reproductive system for thousands of years. Sixty mice were randomly divided into five groups. Except mice in normal group, the rest received HU (400 mg kg−1 body weight) intragastrically. Meanwhile, mice in normal and HU control groups received purified water, and the rest received intragastrically three doses of CD decoctions (1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g crude drug kg−1 body weight, respectively) daily for 4 weeks. Severe testes lesions were observed, testes weight (P<0.01) and serum luteinising hormone levels (P<0.01) were also decreased significantly, in the HU groups. Three doses of CD decoctions alleviated the spermatogenetic cell degeneration induced by HU and modulated the serum sex hormones levels to some extent.

Keywords: Cistanche deserticola; hormones; hydroxyurea; seminiferous tubule

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