The swiss webster mice testes structure after exposed to ethanolic neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract

Abstract

Neems has been known as an anti-fertility effect, both in male and female mammals. This research was performed to find out the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of A. indica on the testes structure that indicated by testicular weight, diameter, and thickness of germinal epithelium of seminiferous tubules. Twenty Swiss Webster male mice were used, and they were divided into two groups (K and P) of ten in replicates. The mice in the K group served as a control group treated with drinking water; while mice in the P group treated with 14 mg/animal/day of ethanolic Neem leaf extract. Treatment was administered orally for 21 days. The mice were sacrificed at 22nd day under chloroform anesthesia. Testes were isolated, weighted and processed with paraffin method continued with HE staining. Diameter and thickness of germinal epithelium of semeniferous tubules were measured on five tubules in every slide of testes. Data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) continued by DMRT. Our result showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between treated and control group on diameter and thickness of germinal epithelium. In conclusion, spermatogenesis in mice was disrupted by ethanolic of Neem leaf extract.