Current medical literature lacks any evidence of the protective effects of quince leaf on testes. Therefore, the aim of
the present study was to assess the effect of quince (
Cydonia oblonga
Miller) leaf decoction on testicular injury and impaired
spermatogenesis induced by hypercholesterolemia in rabbits. Eleven mature New Zealand white male rabbits were randomly
divided into three groups: group 1 (hypercholesterolemia, n=3), group 2 (hypercholesterolemia plus quince treatment, n=6),
and group 3 (control, n=2). Groups 1 and 2 received a cholesterol-enriched diet for six weeks. Group 2 received
C. oblonga
leaf decoction as drinking supplement as well. After six weeks, a normal diet was substituted in groups 1 and 2 for another
six weeks. Group 3 (control group) was maintained throughout the study on a regular diet. At the end of the 12
th week, the
left testes of the animals were resected for light microscopic study with particular attention to the maturity of germ cells in
seminiferous tubules using Johnsen’s score. Increase in intertubular connective tissue and diameter of vessels, abundant
spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes along the reduced germinal epithelium were noted in all rabbits of the group 1.
The remaining animals in groups 2 and 3 had no significant changes in their testicular sections. The mean Johnsen’s score of
group 1 (4.20±1.92) was significantly lower than that of group 2 (7.33±0.52) and group 3 (7.05±0.07). (
P=0.01). In
conclusion, quince leaf decoction (
C. oblonga Miller) protected rabbit testes and spermatogenesis from damage induced by
hypercholesterolemia.
