Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Jun 18:2:968-975.
doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2015.06.009. eCollection 2015.

Histomorphometric studies of the effects of Telfairia occidentalis on alcohol-induced gonado-toxicity in male rats

E N Akang  1 , A A Oremosu  2 , A A Osinubi  2 , O O Dosumu  2 , T O Kusemiju  2 , S A Adelakun  2 , M L Umaru  3
Affiliations

Histomorphometric studies of the effects of Telfairia occidentalis on alcohol-induced gonado-toxicity in male rats

E N Akang et al. Toxicol Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Available evidence suggests that 50% of couples with infertility are male related. Over 40% of these males consume alcohol which has been reported to be a reproductive toxicant causing depletions in the epithelium of seminiferous tubules hence reducing sperm counts and sperm morphology.

Objective: To determine the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis on alcohol-induced cyto-architectural changes in the testis.

Methods: Aqueous leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (T. occidentalis) was administered by gastric gavage at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight daily, while 2 g/kg body weight of ethanol at 30% v/v was administered daily to mature male Sprague-Dawley rats. The experiment was in 2 phases. Phase 1 had groups A1-F1 and lasted for 4 weeks while phase 2 had groups A2-F2 and lasted 8 weeks. Parameters tested include: testicular histology, relative volume density, sperm parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione.

Results: In both phases, there were depletions in the seminiferous epithelium, decreased sperm quality and increased MDA and SOD in animals that received alcohol only compared to control. Likewise, a significant increase of seminiferous epithelium of animals that received respective doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of T. occidentalis only compared to control. Animals that received T. occidentalis and alcohol simultaneously had a significant increase in seminiferous epithelium and sperm quality with decreased MDA level.

Conclusion: T. occidentalis attenuated the deleterious effects of alcohol to the cyto-architecture of the testis, protected the seminiferous epithelium, reduced oxidative stress and promoted spermatogenesis.

Keywords: Alcohol; Oxidative stress; Sperm quality; Spermatogenesis; Telfairia occidentalis; Testis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Photomicrographs of testis (×400) after 4 weeks of administration, showing normal cellularity in germinal epithelium (GE), lumen (L) filled with sperm cells and interstitial cells of Leydig in the interstitium (I) in groups A1 (control), C1 (250 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis), D1 (500 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis) and E1 (250 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis + Alc) and F1 (500 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis + Alc). Group B1 (alcohol 30%v/v) showing depleted spermatogenic cells of the GE.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Photomicrographs of testis of second phase (×400). A2 (control), C2 (250 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis), D2 (500 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis) showing normal GE. Groups E2 (250 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis + Alcohol), F2 (500 mg/kg body weight of T. occidentalis + Alcohol). Group B2 (alcohol 30%v/v) showing depleted spermatogenic cells in the germinal epithelium (GE) after 8 weeks of administration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Aitken Roman R.J.S.D. Antioxidant systems and oxidative stress in the testes. Oxid. Med. Cell Longevity. 2008;1:15–24. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Aitken R.J., Clarkson J.S., Fishel, S Generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and human sperm function. Biol. Reprod. 1989;40:183–197. - PubMed
    1. Akang E.N., Oremosu A.A., Dosumu O.O., Ejiwunmi A.B. The role of Telfairia occidenatis in protecting the testis against alcohol induced damage. Maced. J. Med. Sci. 2011;4:380–387.
    1. Akinloye O., Abbiyesuku F.M., Oguntibeju O.O., Arowojolu A.O., Truter, EJ The impact of blood and seminal plasma zinc and copper concentrations on spermogram and hormonal changes in infertile nigerian men. Reprod. Biol. 2011;11:83–98. - PubMed
    1. Alvarez J.G., Storey B.T. Differential incorporation of fatty acids into and peroxidative loss of fatty acids from phospholipids of human spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Devel. 1995;42:334–346. - PubMed