The Effects of Ethanolic Root Extract of Rauwolfia Vomituria on the Testes of Adult Male Albino Wistar Rat

The effect of ethanolic root extract of Rauwolfia vomituria on the histology of the testes of adult male wistar rat was investigated. The experiment was carried out using thirty (30) male wistar rats weighing between 180g to 220g. The animals were divided into 5 groups with 6 rats in each group. Groups A, B, C, and D served as experimental groups while group E was the control group. Group A, B, C and D animals were given 50mg/kg,100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the ethanolic root extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria respectively while group E animals was given distilled water. Administration was done orally and it lasted for twenty-one (21) days and a watchout period of seven (7) days was observed to determine if the effect of the plant extract could be reversed. Rats were sacrificed at various intervals, day 8th, 15th, 22nd and finally at day 29th . Testes from various groups were carefully harvested, fixed immediately in formal saline and sent to the laboratory for tissue processing and histopathological analysis. Blood samples were also collected and sent to the laboratory for testosterone analysis. Results obtained showed behavioural changes, body weight, histopathological effects and increased testosterone level. Behavioral changes revealed generalized body weakness, drowsiness, laboured breathing, anorexia and death. The final body weight of experimental groups increased insignificantly (P<0.05) with the control. Histhopathology showed distortions of spermatocytes and spermatogonia of the testes in experimental groups with respect to duration, when compared to Group E which showed normal cellular architecture of the seminiferous tubules, leydig cells, sertoli cells, sperm cells and flagella.Group A and B, showed mild to moderate distortions while group C and D showed severe distortion of cells. At the watchout stage, there was a reversal effect of the damage caused by the extract. Testosterone analysis indicated a reduction in the concentration of testosterone. It is observed that the histological effect of the ethanolic root extract of Rauwolfia vomituria showed various grade of degenerative changes, meanwhile prolong intake at high dosage has deleterious and adverse effect on the testes of male wistar rats.

Key Words: Rauwolfia vomituria, Histopathology, Wistar rat and Testes