Investigation Effect of High-Dose Fluoxetine on Modified Semen Morphology and Protective Effect of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L): Pilot Study

Author : Ahmet Yılmaz

Abstract : Aim: Depression and antidepressant drugs induce adverse effects in male fertility. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of high-dose fluoxetine treatment on sperm morphology and to prospectively investigate the protective effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) against fluoxetine-induced sperm morphological changes in rats. Material-Method: Male Sprague Dawley rats will divide into six groups, first 7 rats as sham group; will receive Dimetil sülfoksit (DMSO) / intraperitoneal (i.p.), second; control will receive distilled water only, third; 7 rats; will receive fluoxetin 10 mg/ kg/peroral (p.o.), fourth; fluoxetin 100 mg/kg/p.o., fifth; fluoxetine 10 mg/kg/p.o. + Pomegranate; 10 piko gr/kg/ i.p. sixth; fluoxetin 100 mg/kg/p.o. + Pomegranate; 10 piko gr/ kg/ i.p. all groups will treate for seven days. The morphological changes of seminiferous tubules will analyse by haematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining technique. Each stained section will evaluate under a light microscope (Olympus BX43). TUNEL method will use to detect apoptosis in tissue samples. ApopTag kit will applly according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol (S7101, ApopTag® Plus Peroxidase In Situ Apoptosis Kit from EMD 40 assays, MILLIPORE). Results: The morphological changes of seminiferous tubules of the all groups will investigate and research how different each other about histological and tissue changed differences between each other. Conclusion: This study will show that antidepressant treatment with fluoxetine on testicular function and sperm morphology and indicate that treatment with Pomegranate will show how effect on this process

Keywords : Experimental study, Semen Morphology, Pomegranate.

Conference Name : International Conference on Family Medicine and Nutrition Counseling (ICFMNC-26)

Conference Place : Brussels, Belgium

Conference Date : 13th Jul 2026