Honey and royal jelly boost sperm parameters, ovarian follicles growth, and steroid hormones in immature rats.

Abstract

Background: Traditional medicine experts frequently recommend honey and royal jelly (RJ) as a supplemental diet to cure infertility and increase reproductivity.

Aim: The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of honey and RJ on testis and ovary performance in relation to hormone levels, sperm parameters, and ovarian follicles.

Methods: Forty-two immature Albino Sprague-Dawley male and female rats were used and allocated into seven groups: group 1 (Control negative), the rat was on a normal diet; groups 2, 3, and 4, the animals were fed on honey 2.5, 5, and 10 g/kg/bw; and groups 5, 6, and 7, the rats were fed on RJ 2.5, 5, and 10 g/kg/bw. After 4 weeks of the experiment, the blood was taken by heart puncture for hormonal and antioxidant assay by Cobas pack and ELISA utilization, respectively, the semen was taken manually from the epididymis for detecting sperm morphology and viability, and the testis and ovary were processed for H&E staining and histomorphometric parameters by (Am Scope^TM) analyzer.

Results: Honey and RJ improved the level of male and female hormones significantly (p ≤ 0.5), additionally, boosted the number, morphology, and normal viable sperm, and increased the number of ovarian follicles, particularly mature follicles and corpora luteal significantly (p ≤ 0.5) versus the control negative group. The higher dose of honey and RJ improved the weight and histology of the testis and ovary with increased diameters significantly (p ≤ 0.5) versus the control negative group.

Conclusion: According to this study, honey and RJ may be a novel additional supplement that could improve reproductive performance and be a successful future treatment for reproductive abnormalities.