ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study investigated the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Tridax procumbens (ALETP) on contractile activity of corpus cavernosum in N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-induced hypertensive male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty normal, adult male rats (130-150 g) were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group I (control) was given normal saline (0.6 mL/kg) and group II was given l-NAME (40 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. Groups III and IV also received l-NAME (40 mg/kg) for 6 weeks but were further co-treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg of ALETP, respectively, from week 4 to week 6. All treatments were given orally. Strips of corpus cavernosum from each of the four groups were exposed to increasing concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (10-10mol/L) after contraction with phenylephrine (10 mol/L) to test for a dose-response effect. Response to potassium and calcium was also measured after cumulatively adding potassium and calcium (10-50 mmol/L) to potassium- and calcium-free organ chamber. Isometric contractions were recorded through an Ugo Basile data capsule acquisition system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced in the ALETP co-treated group compared to the control and l-NAME-only groups (P < 0.05). Cavernosa strips from ALETP co-treated rats exhibited significant inhibition of contraction in response to phenylephrine, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride (P < 0.05). Relaxation in response to Ach and SNP was also significantly impaired in cavernosa strips from the l-NAME-only treated group (P < 0.05), while ALETP co-treated groups showed enhanced percentage relaxation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ALETP treatment of l-NAME-induced hypertensive rats promotes a relaxant effect on isolated cavernosa strips. ALETP shows potential in correcting erectile dysfunction in hypertension.</p>
ABSTRACT
Artesunate is commonly used in malaria therapy. Many antimalarial drugs have been associated with male reproductive dysfunction. The effect of artesunate on male reproductive activities was studied using in-vivo and in-vitro experimental models. Adult male rats [n=6] were orally given artesunate [2.9 mg/kg body weight] on daily basis for five days. Artesunate [2.9 mg/kg body weight] was administered to another group of rats daily for six weeks, while there was a recovery group of rats too. The control animals received the vehicle only. At the end of the treatment, sperm characteristics, serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels, testicular and epididymal histology and fertility were assessed. Cultured Sertoli cells were treated with 0.3 micro M to 10 micro M artesunate for five days after which Sertoli cell viability, double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid [ds-DNA] integrity and genetic expression of Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF] and ttendance were assessed. The data were analyzed using Graphpad Instat Statistical software. A probability value of p <0.05 was considered significant. Artesunate did not cause any significant effects in short-term administration but significantly reduced the aforesaid parameters in long-term administration. There were visible lesions in the testicular and epididymal histological studies, although fertility was not significantly reduced. These changes were restored in the recovery experiment. In-vitro studies showed dose and duration dependent changes in Sertoli cell viability and ds-DNA integrity. However, ttendance and GDNF gene expressions were normal. The results suggest that long-term administration of artesunate could induce reversible infertility in rats which may act via distortion of blood-testis barrier formed by Sertoli cells
ABSTRACT
Infertility is common among couples of child-bearing age and approximately half of known causes of primary infertility are attributable to male factor. It is still unclear whether the injurious effects of cigarette smoking on sperm characteristics and infertility are due to nicotine. Therefore, the present study investtigated the effects of orally administered of nicotine on sperm characteristics and libido in adult male albino rats. The study also sought nicotine effects on fertility rate, litter size and weight in female animals cohabited with nicotine treated male rats. Forty male and twenty-five female rats were used for the study. The male rats were divided into five groups and were treated for a period of 30 days with nicotine 0.5 mg/kg [low dose] and 1.0 mg/kg [high dose] per body weight while the control rats received 0.2 ml/kg normal saline. The fourth and fifth groups were gavaged with 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg body weight of nicotine but were left untreated for another 30 days. These groups served as the recovery groups. At the end of each experimental period, sperm analysis, fertility study, litter weight and size were determined. Sperm motility and count significantly decreased [P<0.05] while the percentage of abnormality significantly increased [P<0.05] in both treatment groups. However, there was an insignificant decrease [P>0.05] in the viability and semen volume of the treated groups. Fertility studies revealed that nicotine reduced libido in male rats, litter weight and number delivered by the untreated female during the experiments. The present study showed that nicotine has a dose-dependent deleterious effect on the sperm characteristics and that fertility is ameliorated by nicotine cessation in male rats
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Male , Female , Fertility/drug effects , Nicotine/adverse effects , Rats , Sperm Motility/drug effects , Sperm CountABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of methanol extract of Ricinus communis seed (RCE) on male rats reproductive functions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two male albino rats were divided into four groups. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were gavaged with 0.2 mL of 2.5% tween 80 (RCE vehicle; control) or 20 mg/(kg x d) and 40 mg/(kg x d) of RCE, respectively, for 30 days, and group 4 was also gavaged with 40 mg/(kg x d) of RCE, but was allowed a recovery period of 30 days. Five untreated female rats were cohabited with male rats in each group from day 25 of RCE treatment for 5 days, except group 4, where cohabitation began on day 25 of the recovery period. All male rats were sacrificed 24 h after the experiments. The female rats were laparotomized on day 19 of pregnancy and the number and weight of litters were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant decrease (P<0.01) in the weight of the reproductive organs, sperm functions and serum levels of testosterone in RCE treated rats. There was disorganization in the cytoarchitecture of the testes, disruption of the seminiferous tubules and erosion of the germinal epithelium. The number and weight of litters of rats in groups 2 and 4 decreased significantly (P<0.05) but no changes were observed in group 3. RCE caused no changes in liver, kidney, heart or body weights in male rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RCE has a reversible negative impact on male reproductive functions, which appears to be mediated via gonadal disruption in testosterone secretion.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Epididymis , Litter Size , Methanol , Organ Size , Plant Extracts , Pharmacology , Prostate , Reproduction , Ricinus , Chemistry , Seeds , Chemistry , Spermatozoa , TestisABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae) on the reproductive activity of male albino rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two groups of rats were treated with 400 mg/(kg .d) of Morinda lucida leaf extract for 4 and 13 weeks, respectively. The control rats received the vehicle. All the treated rats had corresponding recovery groups. At the end of each experimental period, animals were killed and organ weights, sperm characteristics, serum testosterone levels, histology of the testes and fertility were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Morinda lucida leaf extract did not cause any changes in body and somatic organ weights, but significantly increased the testis weight (P 0.05). The sperm motility and viability, and the epididymal sperm counts of rats treated for 13 weeks were significantly reduced (P 0.05). Sperm morphological abnormalities and serum testosterone levels were significantly increased (P 0.05). There were various degrees of damage to the seminiferous tubules. The extract reduced the fertility of the treated rats by reducing the litter size. Reversal of these changes, however, occurred after a period of time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The extract of Morinda lucida has reversible antispermatogenic properties.</p>