Morphological and Histological Alterations in the Testes of Wistar Rats Administered Extracts of Monodora Myristica Seeds

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

2 Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The use of plant extracts as a fertility enhancer in man is on the increase because of the shifting of attention from synthetic drugs to natural plant products. This work is focused on the effects of Monodora myristica seedson testes of Wistar rats. Twenty Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups. The Control group received distilled water. Three groups represented low, medium, and high doses were given 1500 mg/kg, 3000 mg/kg, and 4500 mg/kg body weight of extracts of M. myristica respectively via oral administration for 28 days. The testes were excised, measured, and processed for morphological and histological analysis. Morphological results showed a statistically non-significant difference (P>0.05) between the mean testicular weight and dimensions in low and medium doses compared to the control. This was also supported by the normal histological features seen in sections of the testes of rats in these groups. The high dose group showed a statistically significant decrease in the testicular weight, - with shrinking and less dense spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules. This study revealed that M. myristica has no detectable damaging effect(s) on the testes at low and medium doses but could improve the cytoarchitecture and enhance fertility. However, its effect can be said to be dose-related and usage should be controlled.

Keywords

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, D. Histology & Histochemistry
Volume 12, Issue 2
December 2020
Pages 9-21

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