Reproductive Potentials of Azanza Garckeana Fruit Extract on Lead Treated Male Wistar Rats

What is it about?

Reproduction is an important biological trait to produce new individual organisms and is fundamental for the life of an individual as well as the survival and development of the species. The current study evaluated the effects of Hydro-methanolic fruit extract of Azanza garckeana on reproductive functions in male Wistar rats. Twenty (20) Wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each were used for the study. Group 1 served as negative control and received only water and feed; group 2 received 5mg/kg of lead acetate only, while groups 3 and 4 were administered with 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of Hydro-methanolic fruit extract of Azanza garckeana respectively for a period of 28 days. At the end, the animals were anaesthesized with chlorofoam and blood was collected through cardiac puncture for hormone analysis. Semen was obtained for sperm analysis. The result showed that follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone and testosterone decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the positive control (lead only) group when compared to the negative control. There was a significant increase in testosterone level in group 3 (lead + 200 mg/kg) and group 4 (lead + 400 mg/kg) when compared to the lead only group. The sperm parameters including viability, normal morphology, actively motile and count were decreased in the lead only group, but significantly increased in the groups that received Azanza garckeana extract. In conclusion, extracts of Azanza garckeana improved reproductive parameters in male Wistar rats with lead induced reproductive toxicity

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Why is it important?

There was a decline in levels of some reproductive parameters due to lead induced toxicity in male Wistar rats. However, administration of hydromethanolic fruit extract of Azanza garckeana ameliorated the negative impact of lead on testosterone and sperm parameters including viability, morphology, motility and count in male Wistar rats.