Biochemical and histological study of spermatogenic activity in male albino rats treated with Cantharis Q

Cantharidin is a bioactive toxin produced by the blister beetles commonly called Spanish fly. This natural compound is a bicyclic monoterpene (C10H12O4 ) that has clinical application as an anti-inflammatory, antiviral as well as antitumor agent and has been widely used to treat a variety of skin-related diseases. There are several reports of consumption of dried blister beetles and their traditional formulations due to a long history of the supposed aphrodisiac property of cantharidin. The present study, therefore, aimed at investigating the biochemical and histological changes in the testes of male albino rats of Wistar strain due to oral intake of Cantharis Q, a crude alcoholic extract of blister beetle Lytta vesicatoria used as mother tincture and as diluted potentized form in homeopathy. The experimental rats were given Cantharis Q dosage of 500 µg/Kg body weight for 60 days and the subsequent autorecovery was also studied after 30 days without treatment. The treated rats showed a significant decrease in the weight of testis, seminiferous tubular diameter and sperm count. Activity of testicular acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hyaluronidase (HL) enzyme and content of cholesterol, total protein, DNA and RNA decreased significantly whereas activity of beta-glucuronidase (BG) enzyme and glycogen was significantly increased. Spermatogenesis stages VIII, IX and X showed sloughing of round spermatids into the tubular lumen. The animals kept for autorecovery showed only partial improvement. Thus, it could be concluded that the treatment had a negative impact on the physiological function of testis of albino rat causing detrimental effects on the spermatogenic activity