Ultrastructural changes in Leydig cells and cauda epididymal spermatozoa induced byAzadirachta indica leaves in albino rats

Abstract

The effects of Azadirachta indica leaves (500 mg/kg body weight, orally/day), testosterone (0.25 mg/kg body weight/day, intramuscularly) and a combination of these two were investigated as to whether Azadirachta indica leaves affect the morphology of Leydig cells and epididymal sperm and their organelles at the ultrastructural level. Azadirachta indica treated rats showed atrophic seminiferous tubules with widening intercellular spaces. Leydig cells exhibited characteristics of degeneration such as indented nuclei; the commencement of degeneration was evident from less chromatin; the reduced amount of a marked decrease in organelle content and scarcity of other cell types of the interstitium in highly vacuolated cytoplasm, which were seem from both light and electron microscopic observations. The number of Leydig cells and their nuclear diameter were reduced significantly. Pathological changes in the spermatozoa of the cauda epididymis were observed and the spermatozoa retained cytoplasmic droplets. It is suggested that regression of Leydig cells and the absence of interstitium cell types indicates an androgen deficiency, which affects the spermatozoa in the epididymis by disturbing the internal epididymal milieu. The antiandrogenic and antispermatogenic properties of Azadirachta indica leaves appear to lead to a reduced fertilizing ability of the sperm.

Potential Changes in Rat Spermatogenesis and Sperm Parameters after Inhalation of Boswellia papyrifera and Boswellia carterii Incense

“…Treatment with different parts of the plants such as leaf powder of Azadirachta indica [24,25] crude garlic [23] and benzene extract of O. sanctum leaves [22] on ultrastructure of the rat testis revealed several changes and it can be summaries in three categories such as: (i) vacuolization in the Sertoli cells and germ cells; (ii) degeneration of mitochondria followed by vacuolization in spermatocytes and spermatids; and (iii) a decrease in nuclear density and ruptures of plasmatic membranes. Studies from Aladakatti and Nazeer Ahamed [22,24] and Alladakatti et al [25] have shown that Azadirachta indica leaf powder and benzene extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves cause the disruption of intercellular bridges between germ cell-germ cells, germ cells-Sertoli cells or Sertoli cells-Sertoli cells in rats due to their antiandrogenic properties. In view of the dynamic role of androgen in the initiation and maintenance of spermatids, it is believed that the degenerative changes observed in the spermatids may be due to deprivation of androgens.…”

The potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles in males

“…The leaves of Azadirachta indica when administered orally at a dose of 500 mg per kg body weight exhibited a regression and decrease in the number of Leydig cells and their nuclear diameter, indicating androgen deficiency[46]. The aqueous extracts leptadenia hastata when administered orally at varying doses per kg body weight exhibited anti-androgenic property[47].…”

“…A linear decrease in the percentage of sperm motility was observed with various concentrations (1–50 mg per 1 million sperm) of neem leaf extract, with motility falling to absolute zero within 20 seconds of exposure to 3 mg dose[68]. Atrophy of the Leydig cells was observed when the leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica and flower extract of Malvaviscus conzattii were administered to male albino rats[466970]. The aqueous leaf extract of neem when administered to male mice at a dose of 200 mg kg –1 for 28 days damaged the seminiferous tubules, resulting in the slackening of germinal epithelium, marginal condensation of chromatin in round spermatids, degeneration of germ cells and the derangement of germ cell types from their orderly arrangement in spermatogenesis[71].…”

Alternate Strategies of Hsp90 Modulation for the Treatment of Cancer and Other Diseases

“…Both the Thunder of God vine and the Neem Tree are used in traditional medicine practices to treat a variety of inflammatory and auto-immune diseases including cancer, and both natural products manifest anti-spermatogenic properties [141, 142]. This anti-spermatogenic capacity is shared with another Hsp90 inhibitor, gamendazole, a synthetic small molecule [28].…”