Histological Integrity of the Testis of Adult Wistar Rats (Rattus novergicus) Treated with Garcinia kola

Abstract

Garcinia kola has been confirmed for spermatogenic and tissue enhancing effect of testis in male wistar rats. This study was carried out to investigate the histological effect of ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola on Lead II oxide induced testicular damage. Thirty five (35) adult male wistar rats were randomly selected into seven (7) groups n=5. Group A received 0.5 ml saline solution, Group B received 100 mg/kg of Garcinia kola extract only, Group C received 5 mg/kg of Lead II oxide only, Group D 1 received 100 mg/kg of Garcinia kola extract and 5 mg/kg of Lead II oxide, Group D 2 received 200 mg/kg of Garcinia kola extract and 5 mg/kg of Lead II oxide, Group E received 500 mg/kg of vitamin E only and Group F received 500 mg/kg of vitamin E and 5 mg/kg Lead II oxide. Administration was done orogastrically daily for 2 weeks, animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last administration by cervical dislocation and the testes excised following abdominal incision for histological observation using H/E stain. Slight degeneration of the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubule and abnormal widening of the interstitial space involving loss of Leydig were observed following the administration of Lead II oxide. However, Improvements in the testicular architecture were noticed in the rats treated with the Garcinia kola and the Vitamin E respectively thus histological integrity maintained.

Pathological, biochemical and hormonal changes associated with prolonged administration of methanol extract of <i>Garcinia kola</i> seed in adult male Wistar rats.

“…It is commonly called "bitter kola" or "male kola" due to its bitter taste, and for its acclaimed aphrodisiac activity, respectively (Uko et al, 2001). The potential benefits of GK seed as a therapeutic agent have been widely reported in literature, these include hepato-protective (Akintonwa and Essien, 1990;Braide 1991;Farombi et al, 2000;Nwankwo et al, 2000;Farombi et al, 2005;Dare et al, 2012), antithrombotic (Olajide, 1999) and antimicrobial (Iwu et al, 1999;Nwankwo et al, 2000;Ezeifeka et al, 2004;Adegboye et al, 2008) activities. The seed is also acclaimed in folklore to possess aphrodisiac properties in terms of enhancement of sexual activity in males and thus consequently been extensively used in the treatment of erectile dysfunctions in man (Ralebona et al, 2012).…”