The epididymides were
dissected in 2 ml normal saline (0.9% NaCl); incubated
at 37°C, and sperm motility was evaluated by the procedures described in previous publication [17]. At
least 200 spermatozoa and 5 fields were assessed for
each specimen (n = 8), and the percentages of motile and
progressively motile spermatozoa were determined.
Sperm density was determined by using a hemocytometer
count according to the method modified from
that described by Taylor et al. [18] and Egbunike et al.
[19]. Mean spermatozoa density was obtained by
counting from 5 squares of a hemocytometer. Morphological
abnormalities of the sperm head in 8 rats of every
group were assessed essentially according to the criteria
of Wyrobek and Bruce [20], and the results presented as
percentages. Half of the male rats in each treatment
group on day 61 were mated with female rats in a ratio
of 1:1. All female rats were provided the same commercial
standard chow during pregnancy. The pregnancy
rate, litter size, and birth weight in the female rats were
observed