TESTICULAR AND ANDROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF THE ROOT OF CISSAMPELOS MUCRONATA (A. RICH) IN RATS
S.H. Garba1, T.W. Jacks1, P.A. Onyeyili2 and H.A. Nggada3
1Department of Human Anatomy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
3Department of Human Pathology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
E-mail: saniwakawa@yahoo.co.uk
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to determine the potential toxicological effects of the methanol root extract of Cissampelos mucronata (A. Rich) on testicular tissue and some andrological parameters in the male rats. A total of 20 male rats weighing 200-253 g were used for the study which was randomly divided into four groups of 5 rats per dosage group (I-IV). Group I served as the control group and were administered normal saline equivalent to the volume administered to the highest dosed experimental rats. Rats in Groups II, III and IV were administered with 100 mgkg-1, 200 mgkg-1 and 300mgkg-1 doses of the extract respectively for 28 days. At the end of the experimental period the rats were anaesthetized, sacrificed and orchidectomy performed to obtain testicular tissues for semen and histopathological analysis while blood obtained was analysed to determine the serum levels of Testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Administration of 100, 200 and 300 mgkg-1 of the extract for 28 days caused a significant (p<0.01) decrease in both body and testicular weights in a dose dependent manner. There was a decrease in sperm count, motility and the percentage of total viable sperm and an increase in the percentages of non motile and abnormal sperm cells that was not biologically significant and dose dependent. Hormonal analysis also revealed that the extract elicited a decrease in testosterone levels at 200 and 300 mgkg-1 all the changes were not biologically significant while LH and FSH levels were not affected. Histopathological assessment of the testicular tissue revealed paucity in the number of spermatogenic cells, atrophy of Leydig cells and moderate basement membrane thickening. The study suggests that prolonged and constant use of the extract has testicular toxicity potentials but further studies to assess if the damages caused are reversible or not is suggested.