Antiaging activities of Muntingia calabura Leaf Aqueous Extracts (MCE) on Testicular Histology, Spermatogenic Proliferation, and Testosterone Level of D-Galactose-Induced Mice Model

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Male aging may disrupt spermatogenesis and induce intratesticular redox imbalance, leading to testicular damage. Muntingia calabura leaf extracts (MCE) have potent antioxidant activity, but in vivo reports in the male reproductive system aging are limited. This research aimed to determine the effects of MCE on testicular histology and testosterone levels in the D-galactose-induced aging mice model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasma and testicular tissue obtained from 20 male Mus musculus strain Balb/C which were divided into 5 groups: normal; aging; aging+ Muntingia calabura leaf aqueous extracts (MCE) 35 mg/kg; aging+MCE 70 mg/kg; and aging+vitamin C 28 mg/kg. Treatments were scheduled orally for 4 weeks; aging condition was induced using oral 500 mg/kg D-galactose for 6 weeks before treatments. Plasma testosterone was determined using ELISA, seminiferous tubules’ diameter, spermatogenesis score, and Leydig cell number were examined with routine staining, and the nuclear expression of Ki-67 was performed via immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The MCE-treated aging group had higher seminiferous tubules’ diameter, spermatogenesis score, Leydig cells’ number, and percentage of cells expressing Ki-67 compared with the untreated group (p < 0.005), and the optimum dose was 70 mg/kg. However, testosterone levels of the MCE group did not significantly differ from those of others. CONCLUSION: Administration of MCE in D-galactose-induced aged mice improved seminiferous tubule diameter, spermatogenesis score, Leydig cells’ count, and spermatogenic cell proliferation, but not testosterone level.