Three-dimensional quantitative analysis of testicular tissue sections of sprague-dawley rat: the after treatment responses to varying doses of Momordica charantia

摘要

Background: In our previous study we scrutinized the intrinsic worth of graded doses of Momordica charantia (MC) seed extract as an antispermatogenic agent in Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats. The corresponding histological quantification of the testicular responses to the extract is yet to be established. Objective: To investigate quantitatively using simple stereological tools the testicular reactions of S-D rats administered graded doses of M. charantia seed extract. Methodology: Twenty adult male S-D rats, weighing 110?214 g were assigned randomly into four groups (I?IV). Animals in groups I, II and III received varying oral doses of 15, 25 and 50 mg/100 g b.w/day of ethanolic seed extract of MC, respectively. Group IV rats (control) were fed an equal volume of physiological saline. The duration of treatment for both extract and physiological saline was 56 days. The animals were sacrificed and the testes processed for histometry (measurement of tissues). Stereological parameters estimated include; testicular volume and weight, tubular diameter, cross sectional area of seminiferous tubules, number of profiles per unit area, length density and numerical density of the seminiferous tubules. Results: Showed a dose dependent decrease in the mean testicular volume and weight, seminiferous tubular diameter and cross sectional area. However there was an increase in the number of profiles per unit area, length density and numerical density of the seminiferous tubules.Conclusion: Histometric data supports a dose-related deleterious effect on the testes of S-D rats treated with Momordica charantia seed extract. This also depicts a dose related antifertility potential of the extract.