Combined effect of ethanolic leaf extracts of Carica papaya and Newbouldia laevis on the histology of testes of Alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the combined effect of ethanolic leaf extracts of C. papaya and N. laevis on the histology of testes of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methodology: Forty male wistar rats weighing 150 -180 g were procured, acclimatized for two weeks, after which were divided into eight groups of five rats each, and housed in cages. The groups were designated as groups A - H. Group A served as the control group, and received distilled water only. Animals in groups B – H were induced with diabetes using alloxan. Diabetic group B received no treatment throughout the experiment, while the diabetic groups C - H received 400 mg/kg of C. papaya leaf extract, 600 mg/kg of C. papaya leaf extract, 400 mg/kg of N. laevis leaf extract, 600 mg/kg of N. laevis leaf extract, 200 mg/kg of C. papaya + 200 mg/kg of N. laevis , 300 mg/kg of C. papaya + 300 mg/kg of N. laevis leaf extract respectively for 21 days via oral route with the aid of oral gastric tube. On the 22nd day, the animals were sacrificed via chloroform inhalation, and testes were harvested for histological studies. Result: Histopathological findings showed moderate spermatogenic arrest with interstitial hemorrhage (H) within the basal layer; mild regeneration with moderate spermatogenic arrest (SA), moderate vacoulation (V) of the sertoli cells and interstitial hemorrhage (IH); moderate regeneration with mild spermatogenic arrest (SA), mild vacoulation (V) of the sertoli cells and moderate interstitial hemorrhage (IH); moderate regeneration with active seminiferous tubules, and well enhanced spermatogenesis though there were mild pyknotic (P) appearance of the sertolli cells in some areas and interstitial hemorrhage; mild regeneration with moderate atrophy (A) of the seminiferous tubules, mild arrest of the spermatogenesis (SA) and interstitial hemorrhage (IH); moderate healing with disorganization of the seminiferous tubules and interstitial fibrosis (IF); and moderate healing with distortion (D) of the seminiferous tubules, interstitial fibrosis (IF) and mild arrest of the spermatogenesis (AS) on the histology of testes in groups B - H that received variable doses of C. papaya and N. laevis leaf extracts respectively. Conclusion: Combined leaf extracts of Carica papaya and Newbouldia laevis leaf extracts have antidiabetic and ameliorating effects on the histology of testes of alloxan induced wistar rats.