Background: There are different responses of lead exposure including reduced fertility, spontaneous abortions, low birth weight, impairment in folliculogenesis, and even damage to the ovaries are also reported. Several reports confirmed the usefulness of black seed oil because of having more than one hundred of components as vol‌atile oil, vitamins and trace elements. Recently, clinical and animal studies revealed that the black seed extract has many therapeutic effects.
Aim of Work: To study the development of the ovary of the offspring of female rats exposed to lead acetate during pregnancy and lactation and the possible protective role of nigella sativa oil.
Materials and Methods: Three groups were used; Group A: Includes 15 offspring of 20 control mothers, Group B: Includes 15 offspring of 20 mothers treated with orally lead acetate in a dose of 640mg/kg, Group c: includes 15 offspring of 20 mothers in addition to the same dose of lead acetate each rat was taken orally nigella sativa oil in a dose of 10mg/kg. Both treatments were given to mothers from gestational day 10 to post-natal day 21.After the last dose the abdomens were opened and the ovaries were removed and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic study.
Results: Prenatal lead exposure caused Changes in ovarian architecture and severe pathological changes in the ovarian follicles in the form of delayed development of primordial follicles, damage to the granulosa cells and degeneration to the oocytes which appeared shrunken with vacuolated cytoplasm and destructed zonapellucida. Administration of nigella sativa oil prevents the damaging effect of lead on the ovarian follicles, still some oocytes and follicles preserved its normal appearance.
Conclusion: Exposure of mothers to lead acetate products cause harmful effects on the ovaries of the offspring, Administration of nigella sativa oil has ameliorative effects on these damaging effects of lead acetate.