Heteropterys aphrodisiaca infusion reduces the collateral effects of cyclosporine A on the testis.

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is known to have testicular toxicity, leading to male infertility. Stimulant and aphrodisiac properties have been attributed to the plant, Heteropterys aphrodisiaca. Thus, the present work was undertaken to evaluate the association of the drug and the medicinal herb in Wistar rats, applying testicular morphometry and ultrastructure. Twenty-four rats were used, divided into four groups: I, control; II, CsA; III, simultaneous use of CsA and H. aphrodisiaca; IV, H. aphrodisiaca. Daily administration by gavage was carried out, during 56 days, of water (sham), CsA in a dose of 15 mg/kg per day and/or H. aphrodisiaca in a dose of 0.5 ml of the infusion prepared with 25 g of roots/100 ml of boiling water. Increased body weight was observed for all groups, but the animals that received only CsA showed the smallest body weight gain. Morphometry showed increased connective tissue volumetric proportion and decreased Leydig cell volumetric proportion in CsA-treated rats. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to ascertain that CsA caused seminiferous epithelium degeneration, resulting in Sertoli cell vacuolization, abnormal round and elongated spermatids and large accumulation of residual cytoplasm at the epithelium border next to the lumen. Expanded intercellular spaces between germ cells were still observed in H. aphrodisiaca-treated rat testes. The administration of H. aphrodisiaca infusion to CsA-treated rats diminished nearly all the CsA-induced damage to the testis ultrastructure, suggesting that H. aphrodisiaca infusion may be used combined with CsA to reduce CsA-induced injuries in the testis.