Protective effects of aloe vera gel (aloe baberdensis Miller) on aluminum chloride-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE

This study aims at investigating the protective effects of aloe vera gel on aluminum chloride-induced testicular toxicity of adult Wistar rats.

METHODS

Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D) with five animals per group. Group A serves as the control group and received distilled water (1ml/Kg). Group B received distilled water (1ml/Kg) with 100mg/kg b.wt of aluminum chloride daily. Group C received 100mg/kg b.wt of aluminum chloride with 600mg/kg b.wt of Aloe vera gel daily. Group D received 100mg/kg b.wt of aluminum chloride with 5mg/kg b.wt of vitamin C daily. The animals were fed on standard laboratory animal diet and water ad libitum. Administration was via oral cannula for four weeks. The rats were slaughtered using cervical dislocation. The testes were harvested for seminal, biochemical and histological analysis.

RESULTS

The results demonstrate that the administration of aloe vera gel (AVG) is capable of preventing testicular toxicity due to aluminum chloride. Aluminum chloride caused a significant change in the testes and seminal parameters of group B when compared to the control animals. The level of Nitric oxide (NO) increased and the level of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased significantly in rats treated with aluminum chloride.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of aloe vera gel showed a preventive response in aluminum-induced testicular toxicity of rats as evidenced by histological and biochemical analysis.

Aqueous extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit peels influence copulatory behavior and maintain testicular integrity in sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley rats: Pro-fertility evaluation and histomorphometry evidence

Tetrapleura tetraptera (TT) has been used as a spice, dietary supplement and medicine for various ailments. This study evaluate influence of Tetrapleura tetraptera extract on testis and copulatory behavior in sexually mature male rats. Thirty-two male and sixty-four virgin female rats weighing 150-200 g were used for this study. Male rats randomly divided into four groups of eight (n = 8) rats each. Group A: Control given 2 ml distilled water, group B, C and D received 50, 300 and 700 mg/kg bwt TT for 56 days through oral gavage. The female rats were used for fertility test. Testicular histology, histomorphology, copulatory behavior, sperm parameters, testosterone (TET), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and fertility test were investigated. Tetrapleura tetraptera significantly increase sperm count, motility, normal morphology, daily sperm production, efficiency of sperm production, sperm (average path velocity, straight line velocity and curvilinear velocity), TET, LH, FHS, SOD, GPx, CAT, number of pregnant females, number of fetuses, seminiferous diameter, epithelium thickness and decrease abnormal morphology, seminiferous height, tubule lumen and MDA across the group as compared with control group. Improved testicular histological integrity, sexual behaviour and libido by increased frequencies of mount, intromission, ejaculation and ejaculatory latency. Latencies of mount, intromission and post-ejaculation were significantly reduced. Also, observed increase spermatocytes and spermatids showed no significant difference in spermatogonia cell counts. Tetrapleura tetraptera therefore, enhance steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and improved testicular histological integrity and boost sexual competence in male rats.

Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Lawsonia inermis on Aluminum-induced Oxidative Stress and Adult Wistar Rat Pituitary Gland Histology

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of aqueous Lawsonia inermis leaf extract on aluminum-induced oxidative stress and the histology of the pituitary gland of adult Wistar rats.

METHODS

Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats weighing between 100-196g and 15 mice of the same weight range were included in the study. Lawsonia inermis extracts and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) were administered for a period of three weeks to five rats per group. The subjects in Group 1 (control) were given pellets and distilled water. Group 2 received 60mg/kg/d of aqueous extract of Lawsonia inermis. Group 3 was given 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃. Group 4 was administered 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃ and 60mg/kg/d of aqueous Lawsonia inermis extract orally. Group 5 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃ and 75mg/kg/d of aqueous Lawsonia inermis extract orally. Group 6 was given 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃ and 100mg/kg/d of aqueous Lawsonia inermis extract orally. Group 7 was administered 0.5mg/k/d of AlCl₃ and 5mg/Kg/d ascorbic acid in distilled water orally. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, sedated with chloroform, and had their pituitary glands located, removed, and weighed on an electronic analytical balance.

RESULTS

Decreased cell counts were observed in the pituitary gland micrographs of the Wistar rats given 0.5mg of aluminum chloride, whereas the Wistar rats given 0.5mg of aluminum chloride and varying doses of Lawsonia inermis had increased dose-dependent cell counts.

CONCLUSION

Aqeuous Lawsonia Inermis leaf extract increased the cell counts of the pituitary glands of adult male Wistar rats, in addition to alleviating aluminum-induced oxidative stress.

Histomorphometric evaluation of seminiferous tubules and stereological assessment of germ cells in testes following administration of aqueous leaf-extract of Lawsonia inermis on aluminium-induced oxidative stress in adult Wistar rats

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the 'Cytoprotective effect of Lawsonia inermis aqueous leaf-extract on aluminium-induced Oxidative stress in Histomorphometric of the Seminiferous tubule and Stereology of Germ Cells of adult male Wistar rats', assessing its effect on the Histomorphometry of the Seminiferous tubule and Stereology of Germ Cells.

METHODS

Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats, weighing between 100-196g, and fifteen mice of the same weight range were used. Lawsonia inermis extracts and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) were administered for a period of three (3) weeks, with Five (5) rats per group. Group 1 (control), received rat pellets and distilled water. Group 2 received 60mg/kg/d aqueous extract. Group 3 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃. Group 4 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃ and 60mg/kg/d of aqueous extract orally. Group 5 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃ and 75mg/kg/d of aqueous extract orally. Group 6 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl₃ and 100mg/kg/d of aqueous extract orally. Group 7 received 0.5mg/k/d of AlCl₃ and 5mg/Kg/d of ascorbic acid orally. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, sedated with chloroform and blood was collected. The testes were removed and weighed.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant changes in the percentage of seminiferous tubular and seminiferous ductal diameter within the experimental animals in all the groups (p<0.05). Stereological findings revealed increase in spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, round Spermatids and elongated spematids, spermatozoa, Sertoli cells population of the control rats while the rats given 0.5mg of aluminum chloride per kg of body weight had the lowest value (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we demonstrated the affected histomorphometry of the seminiferous tubule and stereology of germ cells in testes, where stress impacts were most felt and subsequently translated into drastic reproductive dysfunction and distortion of spermatogenesis.

Histomorphology, Sperm Quality and Hormonal Profile in Adult Male Sprague-Dawley Rats following administration of aqueous crude Extract of Solanum nigrum by gastric gavage

Objective

The present study focused on histomorphology, sperm quality, hormonal profile and hematological parameters in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats following the administration of aqueous crude extract of Solanum nigrum by gastric gavage.

Methods

Fourty healthy male adult (12-14 weeks old) Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-220g were randomly divided into four groups (A,B,C and D) of ten (n=10) rats each. Group A which served as control were given distilled water 2ml/kg b.wt each, daily for 28 days. Group B, C and D rats were administered 100, 300 and 500mg/kg b.wt each daily respectively for 28 days. The extract was saved with LD₅₀ >5000mg/Kg. Sperm counts, percentage motility, morphology and percentage live sperm, hormonal profile and hematological parameter were quantified; testis, epididymal and general body weights were measured using a weighing scale. The extract was administered once daily for six days within a week via oral gavage. After the last administration, all rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, the testis were harvested and fixed in Bouin‘s fluid for histology processing.

Results

Our results revealed an increase in sperm counts, percentage of motility, morphology and percentage of live sperm, blood level of follicle stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone and testosterone, hematological parameters, testis, epididymal and general body weights across the groups in a dose-depentant manner. The testis histoarchtecture showed normal cellular composition in their germinal epithelium, with sperm cells in the lumen and a normal interstitium.

Conclusion

This experiment revealed that aqueous extract of Solanum nigrum bears profertility properties which may be beneficial to those who consume it.