<i>Lannea acida</i> improves the emission phase of ejaculation of mature male rat: effects on vas deferens and seminal vesicles

Abstract

Objective: The barks of Lannea acida (L. acida) are used in traditional medicine as aphrodisiac. This work was undertaken to evaluate the effects of L. acida on vas deferens contractility (in vitro test) and seminal vesicles pressure (ex-copula test) of mature rat.

Methods: For the in vitro test, rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the vas deferens removed and mounted in an isolated organ bath containing aerated physiological Krebs solution for the recording of the effects of aqueous extract of L. acida (0.91-14.54 mg/ml) and KCl (13.25-106 mg/ml). For the ex-copula test, the seminal vesicles pressure of urethane-anesthetized rats was measured after urethral and tactile stimulations, intravenous administration of NaCl 0.9% (1 ml/kg), dopamine (5 mg/kg) or plant extract (5-40 mg/kg).

Results: Similar to KCl (13.25-106 mg/ml), the aqueous extract of L. acida concentration-dependently contracted the vas deferens. Furthermore, urethral and tactile stimulations as well as intravenous administration of dopamine or plant extract induced contractions of the seminal vesicles characterized by an increase of the pressure. This increase induced by the plant extract was dose-dependent with significant effects obtained at doses 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg.

Conclusion: These results show that L. acida improves the emissive phase of ejaculation through contraction of vas deferens and seminal vesicle smooth muscles.

Keywords: Lannea acida, emission phase of ejaculation, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, rat