ABSTRACT
Aim: It is highly intricate to categorize a solitary or prevailing factor for pathophysiology of varicocele. Herein, the basis of free radicals in the pathogenesis of varicocele was assessed. Study Design: Experimental using animal models. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, between April, 2012 and August, 2012. Methodology: Five (5) groups of rats were used, Group A animals served as the control, while Groups B, C, D and E animals were varicocelized. Groups C, E and E in addition, had intramuscular treatment of 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 75mg/kg body weight of α-tocopherol respectively. The models were sacrificed on 65th day and Testicular weights and volumes, sperm parameters, histology, morphometry, enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants were vastly estimated. Result: There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in activity level of SOD (5.92±4.1), CAT (380.2±7.1) and GPx (0.79±0.8) and a reduced lipid peroxidation evidenced by significant (p<0.05) reduction in level of MDA (18.2±6.1) of the varicocelized rat treated with Vitamin E (75mg/kg b.wt.) when compared to the activity of SOD (3.31±4.1), CAT (361.2±4.5), GPx (0.36±6.1) and MDA (0.36±6.1) of untreated varicocelized models. The geometric values, sperm characteristics and histological profiles threaded the same pattern as the oxidative status. Conclusion: These results confirmed and validated the important role of reactive oxygen in the pathogenesis of varicocelized.
ABSTRACT
Vernonia amygdalina (bitter-leaf) is native to West Africa but occurs mostly in its cultivated form in various parts of central and southern Nigeria. It is a dark-green leafy vegetable commonly used in cooking and as folkloric medicine for the management of several diseases in Nigeria. In the present study, the effects of varying doses of ethanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina on the rat testis histo-morphometry were investigated. Forty male wistar rats were divided into groups of four. Group A, as the control was given 10 ml/kg/day/oral distilled water while Group B, C and D subsequently treated with 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg/day/oral route Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract respectively for 56 days. Results showed that Group B rats had normal testis histology comparable to the control group. However, rats in Group C and D exhibited dose-dependent poor testes histo-morphometric profiles, with the higher dosage-group (D) providing a worse feature. Thus, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the tubular diameter, cross-sectional area of the tubules, number of tubular profiles per unit area and the mean numerical density of seminiferous tubules of Group C and Group D animals compared to the control group. Our results therefore indicated that, while the lower dose (100 mg/kg) of Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract can be accommodated by rat testis, the higher doses (300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg) demonstrate testicular toxicity in the rat.
La Vernonia amygdalina (hoja amarga) es originaria de África Occidental, pero se produce mediante cultivo en varias partes del Centro y Sur de Nigeria. Es una verdura, una hoja color verde oscuro, común en la cocina y como medicina alternativa en el manejo de varias enfermedades en Nigeria. Se investigaron los efectos de diferentes dosis de extracto etanólico de la hoja de Vernonia amygdalina para estudiar los efectos sobre la histomorfometría testicular en la rata. Cuarenta ratas Wistar macho se dividieron en 4 grupos. Grupo A, como control con el suministro de 10 ml/kg/día/agua destilada vía oral, y los Grupos B, C y D tratados con 100, 300 y 600 mg/kg/día/ vía oral del extracto de Vernonia amygdalina, durante 56 días. Los resultados mostraron que las ratas del grupo B tenían una histología testicular normal y comparable con el grupo control. Sin embargo, las ratas del grupo C y D mostraron bajos perfiles histomorfométricos testiculares, dependientes de la dosis, y con la dosis más elevada, grupo (D) se observaron característica aún menores. Hubo una reducción estadísticamente significativa (p<0,05) en el diámetro tubular, área de sección transversal de los túbulos, número túbulos por unidad de superficie y densidad numérica media de los túbulos seminíferos del Grupo C y D en comparación con el grupo de control. Nuestros resultados indicaron que dosis bajas (100 mg/kg) del extracto de Vernonia amygdalina pueden ser aceptables y no alteran el testículo de rata, pero con dosis altas (300 mg/kg y 600 mg/kg) se observa toxicidad testicular.