Role of Methotrexate and Thyme in Physiological Changes of Male Rat

Abstract

Forty adult male rats weighting (300±50) g were used and divided into 4 equal groups (10 rats/each); Group I: normal control rat group which received no treatment. Group ΙΙ: control rat treated orally with thyme leave extract only at a dose (500mg/kg b.w/d) for a month, Group ΙΙΙ: rat treated (i.p) with methotrexate (MTX) only at a dose (1mg/kg b.w/d) one per week for four weeks and dissolved in (2ml) of saline solution, Group ΙV: rats co-treated with methotrexate at a dose (1mg/kg b.w) and thyme extract at a dose (500mg/kg b.w) daily for a month at the same time. Thyme leave extract enhanced reproductive hormones (testosterone and estradiol E2) after inhibition of MTX. MTX induced increment in MDA level but thyme improved it. Antioxidants enzymes (GR, SOD and CAT) inhibited by MTX and thyme enhanced their depression. Moreover, HB, Platelets and WBCs recorded significant decrease in group of MTX but improved in MTX and thyme treatment group. In conclusion, thyme extract is more effective in the improvement of physiological abnormalities of testicular of rat after injection with MTX.