Histomorphometric and histopathological studies on the effect of <i>Calotropis procera</i>(Giant milkweed)on the male reproductive organs of wistar rats

Abstract

Histomorphometric and histopathological evaluations of the effects of fresh leaf extract of Calotropis procera on the reproductive organs of male wistar rats given 20mg\gm body weight of the extract once daily, orally, for varying number of days showed varying degrees of desquamation of seminiferous epithelial cells, degeneration of
seminiferous tubules and presence of large-sized multinucleated cells as well as significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the seminiferous tubular diameter. The epididymis of the test rats showed cell debris, numerous immature round cells and pinkish homogenous material in the lumens while the epithelia appeared normal. There was a general reduction
in the mean ductular and luminal diameter while fluctuating changes were observed in the epithelial height of the epididymis of treated rats. The accessory glands of test rats showed pinkish homogenous fluid as well as inflammatory cells in the lumen and glandular degeneration of the seminal vesicles. The result from this study revealed that Calotropis procera has a potentially deleterious effect on the testes and accessory sex org an s.