DEEPALI SHARMA, SHWETA SHARMAA, SUBHASINI SHARMAA, ANIL PANDEY, PUNEET KUMAR PARASHARA AND K.P. SHARMA
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate protective role of Spirulina and Tamarind (@ 230mg/ kg) separately and also in combination on testes of Swiss albino male mice exposed to fluoride {sub-acute @ 190mg/kg bw for 7 days through gavage (0.5 ml/mice) and sub-chronic @ 94mg/kg bw for 90 days}. Experiments were set in four phases on healthy young male mice divided randomly to six groups of 10 mice each in a phase. Mice were fed with standard feed in phase-I that was supplemented with Spirulina in phase II, tamarind in phase III and Spirulina + tamarind in phase IV. Fluoride exposure decreased reproductive organs weights and also altered their tissue biochemistry. Histopathological abnormalities in testis were: reduction in seminiferous tubule diameter, thickening of basement membrane of seminiferous tubule, size and cell number/cluster of leydig cells, germ cell layer thickness and even their sloughing into lumen, and size of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. Such abnormalities were comparatively lower in the diet modulated groups. Fluoride withdraw led to faster recovery of post- treated mice, particularly of diet supplement groups.