The influence of the crude aqueous extract of Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae) seeds has been studied on semen profile, fertility, body and organ weight response, and toxicology in male albino rats. The extract was administered at the dose regimens of 10 and 50 mg/animal/day orally for 30, 60, and 90 days and 0.1 and 1.0 mg/animal/day intramuscularly for 15 and 30 days. Cauda epididymal sperm motility and count was reduced significantly at low and high dose regimens both in the oral as well as the intramuscular groups. The reduced sperm motility was associated with morphological defects. Testicular sperm counts were also reduced in all the treatment groups except the low dose intramuscular group. Fertility tests showed dose- and duration-dependent reduction and zero fertility was observed at high dose regimens of the oral and intramuscular groups following 60 and 30 days of treatment, respectively. Testicular weight was reduced in all the treatment groups, whereas accessory sex organs showed a variable response. Body weight and toxicological observations did not show any untoward response. Fertility and all other associated changes returned to normal within 45 and 30 days of treatment cessation in the oral and intramuscular groups, respectively. The data revealed that reversible sterility could be induced in male rats by papaya seeds aqueous extract treatment without adverse effects on libido and toxicological profile.
Pentoxifylline (PF) is used to enhance motility of spermatozoa from infertile human subjects. We have previously shown that 0.45 mM PF improved capacitation of spermatozoa and fertilization of oocytes in vitro in hamsters. The present study was carried out to assess PF-induced changes in motility kinematics of hamster spermatozoa by a computer-aided sperm analyser (CASA) and determine the timing of onset of hyperactivation (HA) and acrosome reaction (AR) in PF-treated spermatozoa. Motility kinematics were analysed by CASA for 0-8 h in the absence or presence of 0.45 mM PF in Tyrode's medium supplemented with lactate, pyruvate and polyvinyl alcohol (TLP-PVA) or in TLP-PVA with bovine serum albumin (TALP-PVA). Conventional assessment was also made on the percentage of motility and quality of motility of spermatozoa; values were expressed as sperm motility index (SMI). Both in TALP-PVA and TLP-PVA, PF markedly increased SMI, especially the quality of motility (P < 0.02) by 2-3 h which was sustained up to 6 h. The motility kinematic data of PF-treated spermatozoa in TALP-PVA showed that average path velocity, curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement significantly (P < 0.05) increased as early as 2 h, with the expected decrease in straightness (STR) and linearity (LIN). Similar changes were also observed with PF-treated spermatozoa in TLP-PVA. Moreover, the percentage of hyperactivated spermatozoa in PF-treated samples was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the untreated control at 2 h. To determine whether PF could induce AR, independent of bovine serum albumin, quantitative AR was assessed by observing the presence or absence of acrosomal cap on viable spermatozoa. PF significantly (P < 0.001) increased the percentage of AR as early as 2 h, reaching maximum at 4 h both in TALP-PVA (P < 0.05) and in TLP-PVA (P < 0.001). These results show that, in hamsters, PF induces early onset (by 2 h) of HA and AR and increases the proportion of spermatozoa undergoing physiological maturation.
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