Protective effect of Aloe vera gel and vitamin E on histological structures of testicular tissue following experimental varicocele induction in rats

Kouchak, Maryam; Hosseinifar , Shima; Tabandeh, Mohammad Reza; Sadeghi , Niloufar

doi:10.22034/AER.1.1.29

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Volume 1, Issue 3 (10-2025)

Journalaer 2025, 1(3): 29-36

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Protective effect of Aloe vera gel and vitamin E on histological structures of testicular tissue following experimental varicocele induction in rats

Maryam Kouchak

, Shima Hosseinifar ^*

, Mohammad Reza Tabandeh

, Niloufar Sadeghi

Abstract: (1352 Views)

Introduction: Varicocele is one of the most common causes of infertility in men, which is caused by the expansion of the venous pampiniform plexus in the internal spermatic vein of the testicle. Considering the active biological components of Aloe vera and the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and tissue regeneration effects, this research was conducted to evaluate of protective effects of Aloe vera gel on the histomorphometric changes of testicular tissue after varicocele induction in rats.
Materials & Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (5 rats in each box) including the Control group; the Sham group (the abdomen was opened and all surgical procedures were performed except vascular ligation); the Group receiving Aloe vera gel (500 mg/kg gavage for 56 days); Varicocele group (through renal vein obstruction method); Varicocele group receiving Aloe vera (500 mg/kg gavage for 56 days); Varicocele group receiving Vitamin. E (40 mg/kg gavage for 56 days). At the end of the experimental period, the rats were euthanized with ketamine-xylazine, and for histomorphometric studies, the left testis was fixed in Buen's solution for histomorphometric studies. Five micrometer thick sections were prepared via the usual methods of preparing paraffin tissue sections, and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) and PAS methods.
Results: The findings of this research showed that the induction of Varicocele damaged the testicular tissue and increased interstitial connective tissue between the seminiferous tubules, hyperemia of the vessels around the tubules, changes in the shape of the seminiferous tubules, destruction of seminiferous tubules epithelium, disorder of spermatogenic cells, vacuolation and atrophy of Spermatogenic cells, and the thickness of the basal membrane of the Spermatogenic tubules was increased in compared with the control group; But in the Varicocele group that received Aloe vera gel, these changes in the testicle tissue were improved to a large extent, in compared to the varicocele group. On the other hand, aloe vera gel caused the continuity of the spermatogenic tubes, reducing the destruction of the tubes, thickness of the basal membrane, and hyperemia of the interstitial connective tissue vessels, compared to the varicocele group. Also, vitamin E caused the continuity of the testicle structure, increased the number of spermatogenic tubules (with active spermatogenic cells), and increased the regeneration of testicular interstitial connective tissue.
Discussion: It seems that aloe vera gel can improve the tissue structure of the testis and seminiferous tubules of varicocele rats and showed protective effects on testis disorders caused by varicocele.

Keywords: Aloe vera, Varicocele, Vitamin E, Testis, Histology, Wistar rat

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Type of Study: Research | Subject: General

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Kouchak M, Hosseinifar S, Tabandeh M R, Sadeghi N. Protective effect of Aloe vera gel and vitamin E on histological structures of testicular tissue following experimental varicocele induction in rats. , Journalaer. 2025; 1 (3) :29-36
URL: http://journalaer.com/article-1-27-en.html

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