Testicular Damage in Telfairia Occidentalis Extract Treated Wista Rats

摘要

Telfairia occidentalis commonly called Pumpkin or Ugwu in Nigeria is one of such plant with claimed medicinal value. No doubt this acclaimed beneficial value may be popularizing its ingestion amongst male populations on whom paucity of literature is present. Hence this study is aimed at determining the effect of Telfairia occidentalis leave extract on testicular histology archipuncture. The study involves 18 adult male rats of comparable weight. They were grouped into three (A, B, and C) where a served as control and B and C served as the test groups. The test group B and C were administered varying doses of the leave extract of Telfairia occidentallis according to body weight. This experiment lasted for four weeks after acclimatization. At the end of the four weeks of study, blood samples were obtained from the rats for analysis of testosterone value. In addition their testes were obtained and fixed in 10% formalin for histological analysis. The result showed a reducing potential effect on plasma testosterone level in a dose dependent fashion. Statistically the plasma testosterone levels of test group B (1.40±0.45ng/ml) were significant at P < 0.05 compared to that of control (2.70±0.96ng/ml). Furthermore the histological presentation was a dose dependent damage on testicular cells. This damages ranges from basement membrane distortions, cellular degeneration, hemorrhage, interstitial space exudations and cellular necrosis. Conclusively, judging by the result of the study. Telfairia occidentallis leave extract have potential for reducing male sexual function considering the observed effect on plasma testosterone level and may also be testiculotoxic indicated by the histological presentation of the testis.