Effect of fruit pulp extract of Adansonia digitata Linnaeus (baobab, kuka) on the histomorphology of the testis in alcohol-induced albino wistar rats

Abstract

Ethanol has been widely reported to be one of the most abused and had cause fertility disturbances such as low sperm count and reduced testicular hormonal level that alters the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (hpg) axis thereby decreasing the function of the gonadotropin releasing hormone with the resultant impairment of the activity of leydig and Sertoli testicular cells. The leaves and fruit pulp of Adansonia digitata is highly consumed plant particularly in Africa. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of alcohol and Adansonia digitata on the histomorhology of the testis. Forty adults male Wistar albino rats were weighed and divided randomly into five groups with five rats each. Group I were control, served with distilled water, Group II were served with 60% alcohol only, group III were given 500mgkg^-1 body weight of AD extract only, group IV was induced with 60% alcohol and treated with 500mgkg^-1 orally for four weeks while V were given a mixture of 60% alcohol with the 500 mg/kg^-1 of AD extract. At the end of four weeks experiment, the animals were sacrificed and tissues processed for hormonal analysis, sperm count and histological studies. The result of the study showed significant (p<0.05 one way Anova) decrease in the sperm count and in hormonal levels of (TT), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone of the rats that were induced with 60% alcohol only, while the deleterious effect of the alcohol on TT and LH have been reversed after treatment with 500 mgkg^-1 AD extract.  The histological architecture of the rat testis induced with 60% alcohol showed severe necrosis and vacuolation of the seminiferous tubules. AD extracts ameliorate the deleterious effects of alcohol in rats reproductive system; therefore, further molecular studies are encouraged to confirm this effect and support the potential development of a supplement.