Effect of Black Walnut ( Tetracarpidium conophorum ) Leaf Extract on the Reproductive Organ of Male Albino Rats

Abstract

This study determined the effect of Tetracarpidium conophorum (black walnut) leaf extract on the male reproductive organs of albino rats. The effects of the leaf extracts were determined on the Epididymal sperm concentration, Testicular histology, and on testosterone concentration in the rat serum by a micro plate enzyme immunoassay (Testosterone assay). A total of sixteen (16) male albino wistar rats were divided into four (1, 2, 3 and 4) groups of four rats each. Group 1 served as the control and was fed with normal diet only, while groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight (BW) of the extract for a period of two weeks. The Epididymal sperm concentration were not significantly affected (p>0.05) across the groups. The level of testosterone for the treatment groups 2 and 4 showed no significant difference (p>0.05) compared to the control while group 4 showed significant increase compared to that of the control (p<0.05). Pathologic changes were observed in testicular histology across the treatment groups. Robust seminiferous tubular lumen containing sperm cells and increased production of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells were observed across different treatment groups compared to that of the control.