Histomorphological Evidences of the Mitigating Effect of Aqueous Citrus Limon Peels Extract on Alcohol Induced Testicular Injury in Wistar Rats

Citrus limon products (pulp and peels) have been reported to contain a variety of bio-active ingredients which are believed to have health promoting benefits. This work was carried out with the aim to unmask possible histomorphological evidences that aqueous extracts of Citrus limon peels can mitigate testicular toxicity caused by alcohol. Thirty-Five(35) matured male rats weighing between 180g-200g were divided into seven (7) groups containing five (5) rats each and were treated daily with oral doses of: 4mg/kg of Distilled water (group I), 2100mg/kg of 30% alcohol only (group II), 2100mg/kg of 30% alcohol + 200mg/kg aqueous Citrus limon peels extract (group III), 2100mg/kg of 30% alcohol + 400mg/kg aqueous Citrus limon peels extract (group IV) for 30 days; a second set of rats were given 2100g/kg of 30% alcohol only (group V), 2100mg/kg of 30% alcohol + 200mg/kg aqueous Citrus limon peels extract (group VI), 2100g/kg of 30% alcohol + 400mg/kg aqueous Citrus limon peels extract (group VII) for 60 days. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment. The left testicles were removed, the weights were taken and testicular volumes measured before preservation and processing for H&E staining. The histological examination of the sections revealed only a slight incidence of cellular distortion. Moderate desquamation within the seminiferous tubules and normal appearance of interstitial cells within the inter tubular connective tissue of the groups treated with aqueous Citrus limon peels extract alongside alcohol. The results were however different in the groups treated with alcohol alone, which showed high levels of cellular distortion , marked tubular desquamation and loss of interstitial cells. The measurement of testicular weights and volumes across the groups however did not show any statistically significant differences (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Citrus limon peels can mitigate testicular injury caused by alcohol in the testes of Wistar rats as portrayed by histological evidence.

Key Words: Alcohol, Citrus limon, Histo-morphology, Testes