Objective: 

To evaluate the role of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on pituitary-testicular axis and fertility in male rats.

Methods: 

Twenty-four male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups; control, group A and group B, and each group consisted of 8 rats. Animals in control group received 1 ml of normal saline (vehicle) and treatment groups (A and B) received graded doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seeds on a daily basis for 60 days. At the end of treatment period, fertility indices such as body and reproductive organs weight, sperm motility, viability and count, epididymal sperm reserve (ESR), daily sperm production (DSP), blood testosterone concentration, gonadotrophin levels and fertility rate were measured.

Results: 

There was a significant increase in testes and epididymis weight, sperm count, ESR, DSP, blood testosterone concentration, FSH, LH and fertility rate in both the lower dose group (respectively 0, 0, p<0.05, 0, p<0.05, p<0.05, 0, p<0.05 and p<0.05) and the higher dose group (respectively p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.001, 0, p<0.05 and p<0.01) as compared to the control group.

Conclusions: 

The results of this study showed that alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seeds especially in higher doses could increase fertility in male rats.