Toxic effect of nicotine on leydig cell count & testosterone levels in adult albino mice & its protection by date palm pit powder

Aim: to evaluate the protective role of date palm pit powder against toxic effect of nicotine on leydig cell count and testosterone levels in adult albino mice. study design: laboratory based randomized controlled trials. place and duration of study: the study was carried out at experimental research laboratory university of health sciences and anatomy department,lahore from february to november 2012. methods: thirty two male albino mice 6-8 weeks and weighing 30±5gm were used; these were divided randomly into groups a,b,c and d. group a served as a control while groups b,c and d were experimental groups. the control group a was treated with 1.5ml/kg of normal saline orally for 15 days. groups b,c and d were given daily of 0.5mg/kg of nicotine intraperitoneally dissolved in1.5ml/kg of saline for the first 15 days of experiment. group b was sacrificed on 15th day to confirm toxicity. groups c was given nicotine treatment till the 15th day and were then put on date palm pit powder (500mg/kg) for next 30 days. however for group 'd' injections of 0.5mg/kg of nicotine dissolved in1.5ml/kg of saline was continued daily for next 30 days. date palm pit powder was subsequently added orally on 16th day and was continued daily till the end of experiment (45th day). results: the results of present study showed that group b mice exhibited features of toxicity evident by statistically significant decrease in leydig cell count and mean serum testosterone levels. group c showed reversal of toxic effects. however; reversal of toxic effect is not evident in group d which was given nicotine and date palm pit powder together till the end of experiment. conclusion: the current work showed that date palm pit powder has a preventive effect on nicotine induced spermatotoxicity in adult albino mice only on stoppage of nicotine.