Penchev, G., S. Georgieva & B. Popov, 2018. Protection against radiation-induced testicular injury in rabbits by haberlea rhodopensis (a balkan ressurection plant) extract. Bulg. J. Vet. Med., 21, No 3, 313–321.

DOI: 10.15547/bjvm.1049

The aim of this study was to determine the deleterious effects of nonlethal gamma radiation on testes and their possible inhibition by Haberlea rhodopensis extract (HRE). For this goal, 20 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group I – untreated, group II – treated with HRE extract, group III – exposed to 2 Gy gamma radiation, group IV – treated with HRE (0.24 g/kg b.w.) two hours before irradiation with 2 Gy. Exposure of animals to 2.0 Gy gamma radiation resulted into significant decrease in tubular diameter and the area of the seminiferous tubules on the 15^th day after irradiation. HRE pretreatment resulted in significant increase in tubular diameter and the area of the seminiferous tubules as compared to the irradiated group. Radiation-induced histological lesions in testicular architecture were more severe in irradiated only than in HRE-treated irradiated rabbits. HRE administration before irradiation significantly attenuated radiation-induced histological damages in testes. These observations indicate the radioprotective potential of Haberlea Rhodopensis leaves extract against the effects of whole body gamma irradiation on rabbit testicular histostructure.

Key words: gamma radiation, Haberlea rhodopensis, rabbit, radioprotection, testicular histostructure