Morphometric assessment of the effect of Carica Papaya bark extract on testes of Sprague-Dawley rats

ABSTRACT

Carica Papaya (CP) plant (paw paw) is largely used for its curative benefit and now being exploited as an anti-fertility agent. The testicular histomorphometric correlation visa versa function is yet to be fully understood. This study aimed at quantifying the effects of aqueous extract of the bark of CP on the testes of adult Sprague–Dawley (S-D) rats. Ninety adult 6-8 weeks old male S-D rats were divided into nine groups [1DW(4wk), 1CP50(4wk), 1CP100(4wk), 2DW(8wk), 2CP50(8wk), 2CP100(8wk), 3DW(16wk), 3CP50(16wk) and 3CP100(16wk)] of 10 rats per group. Rats in groups 1DW(4wk), 2DW(8wk), and 3DW(16wk) served as control and were treated with distilled water (DW) for 4, 8 and 16 weeks respectively. Rats in groups 1CP50(4wk), 2CP50(8wk) and 2CP50(16wk) were fed 50 mg/ml/day CP, while those in groups 1CP100(4wk), 2CP100(8wk) and 2CP100(16wk) were fed 100 mg/ml/day CP. Rats in groups 2CP50(16wk) and 2CP100(16wk) compared to those in 3DW(16wk) were observed for possible reversibility after 8 weeks of withdrawal of the CP extract. Rats were sacrificed after the appropriate duration and testicular histological sections prepared for histometric analysis. Stereological parameters estimated were; tubular diameter, cross sectional area of seminiferous tubules, volume density, number of profiles per unit area, absolute volume of seminiferous tubules and testicular interstitium, numerical density, length density and star volume of the seminiferous tubules. The result showed dose and duration dependent decrease in mean testicular volume, tubular diameter, cross sectional area and star volume of tubules. A converse increase in the length density, numerical density, number of profiles per unit area and volume density of tubules was also observed. Alteration in the histomorphometric data indicates that the CP bark extract can cause impairment in spermatogenesis.