Abstract

This study was designed to find effects of ethanol extracts of Abrus precatoriusseeds on male mice (Balb-C) fertility. The extracts were intraperitoneally administered with 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg doses for 20 days. Compared to the controls, there was no significant decrease in testicular and epididymal weight. Histological analysis showed disrupted arrangement of seminiferous tubules, loosening of germinal epithelium and low counts of leydig cells, germ cells and sperm cells. Thickness of tunica albugenia, seminiferous tubule diameter and germinal epithelial height reduced significantly in treated mice compared to controls. Histomorphology of the epididymus showed a decrease in tubule size, epithelial height and a reduction in sperm number in the tubular lumen. The epididymal corpus segment underwent dysplasia, intraepithelial vacuolation and decreased sperm counts. Plasma testosterone levels decreased significantly with a higher dose (60 mg/kg) compared to controls. This study suggests that A. precatorius seed extract with higher dose (60 mg/kg) tends to suppress spermatogenesis and is hence liable to cause infertility in male mice.

Key words: Histomorphological, anti-fertility, Abrus precatorius.