PAKISTAN
VETERINARY
JOURNAL
     
 
previous page   Pak Vet J, 2014, 34(1): 18-23   next page
 
Evaluation of Fertility Disrupting Potentials of Abrus precatorius Seed Extracts in Male Rats for Arresting Spermatogenesis and Suppressed Fertility In Vivo
 
Saranika Talukder1*, Subir Sarker2, Md. Afzal Hossain3, Md. Abu Hadi Khan4, Md. Abdul Hannan3 and M. Tofazzal Islam5
[1]Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chittagong-4202; 2Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205; 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, 4Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202; 5Department of Biotechnology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh. *Corresponding author: talukdersaranika@yahoo.com

Abstract   

This study was aimed to evaluate the contraceptive potentials of different chemical extracts of Abrus precatorius seeds in male albino rats. The active ingredients of crushed seeds were extracted with 60% aqueous acetone and then partitioned consecutively with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Water suspended chemical fractions at different doses were administered orally to the male rats for 40 days. Effects of different treatments on various male reproductive endpoints and contraceptive efficacy were evaluated. Oral administration of both organic (methanol soluble at 50 and 75 mg/kg BW) and aqueous soluble of A. precatorius seed extracts caused infertility in study subjects at varying degrees. At necropsy, average weights of testes, epididymis, ventral prostate gland and seminal vesicles were decreased significantly. Histology of testes revealed marked atrophy of the seminiferous tubules characterized by disruption of the germinal epithelium and atrophy of the Leydig cells. Epididymis also showed histological alterations. Hormonal assay revealed a significant decrease in serum level of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) that possibly resulted in suppressed spermatogenesis of male rats. These effects lead to the reduction of pregnancy rate of untreated fertile female rats while mated with the methanol extract (50 and 75 mg/kg BW) and aqueous extract-treated male rats. The results show that A. precatorius seed extract causes suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility, thereby suggesting the potential of this plant in the regulation of male fertility.

Key words: Abrus precatorius seed, Antifertility, Male rats, Spermatogenesis

 
   

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)
ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)



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