PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF NIGELLA SATIVA OIL ON TESTICULAR MORPHO-PHYSYLOGICAL CHANGES INDUCED BY CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM IN ALBINO RATS

Alcoholism is an illness caused by consumption of alcohol beverages at a level
that interferes with physical or mental health. and social. family, or occupational responsibility.
People with alcohol dependence have to increase markedly amounts of
alcohol to achieve intoxication or the desired effect (Thomas, 20(3).
Alcoholism affects 15 1020 million Americans and affects three to four times
as many family members. coworkers. and friends, It is involved in half of all fatal
automobile accidents and is responsible for more than 100,000 deaths annually. representing
about 5% of all deaths in the United States. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the
third leading cause of birth defects with accompanying mental retardation
(Michigan society for medical research, 2003).
Acute and chronic alcoholism carry the potential to damage many organs of the
body. including the heart. brain. liver, kidney, digestive system and reproductive
system (erectile dysfunction and cessation of menstruation). When alcohol was given.
its level in the body increased and produced the intoxication effects. The undesirable
toxic effects include damage of Leydig cells and spermatogenic lineage cells
(Michigan society for medical research, 2003).
Zinc is essential for normal growth and reproduction and it has a beneficial effect
on the process of tissue repair and wound healing (King, 1990). Zinc is a constituent
of antioxidant. superoxide disrnutase. It is also needed for proper maintenance
of vitamin E level in the blood and aids in the absorption of vitamin A (Bert
and Falchuk, 1993). It exerts a protective effect and possibly preventing cellular
damage caused by oxidative stress (Marchesini et aI., 1996).