Testicular Biopsies of Azoospermic Men at The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the histological findings from testicular biopsies in azoospermic men seen at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital; Ikeja - Lagos; Nigeria. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of testicular biopsies of azoospermic men who presented to our institution from 2005 to 2006 was performed. The patient's age; type of infertility and histopathological diagnosis were evaluted. All biopsies were preserved in 10formaldehyde solution. Results: Of the 51 azoospermic men (mean age 30 years; range 25 - 46 years) 25 (49.0) had primary infertility; 11 (21.6) had secondary infertility and 15 (29.0) were not specified. Five (9.8) patients had normal spermatogenesis. Abnormal histological parameters occurred in 46 (90.2) patients: testicular atrophy in 30 (58.8); maturation arrest in 14 (27.5) and hypospermatogenesis in 2 (3.9) patients. Conclusion: The presence of normal spermatogenesis in azoospermic men; which would suggest an obstructive lesion; is not common in our practice; in contrast to previous studies from our country. This may indicate a changing pattern in the aetiology of male infertility in our environment. Identification of the possible causes of testicular damage resulting in non-obstructive azoospermia in our environment may help to prevent male infertility

Sub-chronic Toxicity Studies of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Rauvolfia Vomitoria (Afzel)

The cumulative effects of the aqueous leaf extracts of Rauvolfia vomitoria on body tissues was studied. Six groups of male rats consisting of 5 rats per group were given doses of the leaf extract ranging from 0.03g kg-1-1.2g kg-1 to drink at will from their drinking bottles for 42 days. During the period of the study; weights of the animals were monitored weekly with their gross appearances. At the end of the 42nd day; the rats were killed by cervical dislocation. Post-mortem of each of the animals was performed. The liver; kidney; stomach; heart and lungs were excised. The organs from the groups given plant extract were compared with those of the controls. Body weight of both the treated and the control animals rose progressively as the period increased. The pathological features like oedema and hypertrophy noticed in the tissues are considered to be of no serious consequence as they disappeared after cessation of therapy. There abnormalities may possibly not develop with R. vomitoria used for a short period. It is therefore; considered to be non-hazardous

Analysis of Fallopian Tubes seen in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital; Ikeja; Lagos; Nigeria:- An Histopathological Survey

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to appraise the major diseases of the fallopian tubes and causes of damage in this environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of a 4-year review of consecutive fallopian tube specimens received at the Department of Morbid Anatomy of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); Ikeja; Lagos; conducted between 1st of May; 2001 and 31st July; 2005. RESULTS: Over the study period; a total of 237 fallopian tubes were studied. The ages of the patients range from 18 to 54 years with the peak incidence in the 21 to 30 years with the median age of 26. 85(46.4) of the specimens received from 183 patients had ages indicated. Ectopic pregnancy is the commonest indication for sending fallopian tubes to the laboratory for investigation in 63.9 of cases. No case of cancer of the fallopian tubes or tuberculous salpingitis was seen in this study. CONCLUSION: Tubal pregnancy is the commonest indication for sending fallopian tubes to the laboratories for analysis in 63.9 of cases. Malignant tumours of the fallopian tubes and tuberculous salpingitis are rare in this environment