The Histopathological Effects of Immobilization Stress on Rat Testis Tissue, and The Protective Role of Lavender Essential Oil

Aim: Stress can lead to various physiological and psychological disorders and also has a significant effect on male reproductive health. Although the effects of stress on female fertility have been extensively studied, its impact on male fertility is relatively under-researched. This study set out to examine the potential protective effect of lavender essential oil (LEO) against testicular damage induced by immobilization stress in rats. Material and Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar Albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control (C), Stress (S), LEO (L) and Stress + LEO (S+L). Immobilization stress was applied to the S groups for 14 days, and LEO was administered to the relevant groups by inhalation. The testicular tissues obtained at the end of the experiment were stained with hematoxylin & eosin and Masson’s trichrome for histopathological evaluation. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained testicular sections of all groups were evaluated semi-quantitatively. Results: That evaluation revealed significant degenerative changes, irregular seminiferous tubules, and interstitial edema in the testicular tissues from the S group. In contrast, the stress-induced damaged tissue in the S + L group exhibited a significant improvement in morphology. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential protective effects of LEO against testicular damage induced by immobilization stress. The administration of LEO partially preserved the structural integrity of the testicular tissue by mitigating histopathological alterations caused by stress. These findings suggest that LEO may be considered as a supportive therapeutic agent against stress-related male reproductive damage.