Sperm parameters quality and reproductive effects of methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia Alchornea cordifolia leaves on senescent male rats

摘要

Abstract The effect of the methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves on the fertility of senescent male rats was assessed in this study. 40 rats received daily distilled water, testosterone, 200 and 400?mg/kg of extract of Alchornea cordifolia . The reproductive organs weight, the gonadotropins, testosterone and cholesterol level, the sperm parameters, histology of the testes and epididymis were assessed. The weight of testes and prostate (400?mg/kg) significantly increased ( p ??0.05) as well as the level of FHS ( p ??0.001), LH and testosterone ( p ??0.01) at a dose of 400?mg/kg, respectively, while the cholesterol decreased at a dose of 200?mg/kg ( p ??0.05) and 400?mg/kg ( p ??0.01) respectively. The testes and epididymis were full of spermatozoa particularly at a dose of 400?mg/kg. The sperm count and morphology significantly increased at both doses of 200?mg/kg ( p ??0.01; p ??0.001) and 400?mg/kg ( p ??0.001; p ??0.01) respectively. The sperm motion (PROG, VAP, VSL, VCL) ( p ??0.001), (ALH, BCF) ( p ??0.05) increased at a dose of 200?mg/kg and decreased at a dose of 400?mg/ kg. The overall results provide the strong evidence of the fertility potential of the methanolic extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaves in senescent male rats.