The Histomorphological Study on Testicular Cells of Hypercholesterolemia Rats Treated by Polysaccharides of Sea Cucumber, Holothuria nobilis

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is a condition characterized by the presence of high levels of plasma cholesterol. This study aims to determine the morphological change of testicular cells in hypercholesterolemia rats treated by polysaccharides of sea cucumber, Holothuria nobilis. This study used 15 Sprague Dawley rats which was divided into 4 groups: non-hypercholesterolemia group (K-), hypercholesterolemia group (K+), prevention group that were given 1% cholesterol and 400 mg/kg of body weight polysaccharides (ChP), and curative hypercholesterolemia group that treated by 400 mg/kg of body weight polysaccharides (PCh). The ChP and PCh groups were treated for 28 days. Testicular tissue was processed histologically, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Cusson's trichrome staining, and observed using a light microscope. The results indicated that the treatment of sea cucumber polysaccharides could improve the healing process of interstitial cells (Leydig cell). However, the 28 days of hypercholesterolemia has not affected adversely on testicular spermatogenic cell development.