Abstract

The development of a new dietary adjunct with a novel natural antioxidant impact on diabetes mellitus with prevention of its long term deleterious effect on the male fertility in general has been increasingly expressed in recent time. Hence, we aim to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of Sesame radiatum leaves on adult male Sprague Dawley rats’ testis using unbiased stereological, biochemical and hormonal studies. Thirty adult male rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. The treated groups; 1 and 2 received 28.0 and 14 mg/kg bwt of aqueous extract of sesame leaves via oral garvage, respectively, while the control group received equal volume of 0.9% (w/v) normal saline per day for 6 weeks. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and blood glucose were assayed. In addition five microns of uniformly random transverse sections of processed testicular tissues were equally analyzed using an un-biased stereological study. The result showed that the mean percentage volume fractions (Vf) of epithelial cells and lumen of the testis were 76% (P<0.05) and 22% (P<0.05), respectively, in the low dose compared to control. Conversely to the Vf of stroma and glucose level in treated, the mean raw weights of testis and of body weights (g) with the Vf of ST-epithelium in the treated groups were found (P>0.05) higher than the control in a dose related manner. Serum testosterone and FSH were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the high dose sesame when compared to control. Sesame leaves intake improved glucose profile and testicular parameters in a dose related manner via possible improved insulin activity on the cells with a stimulatory impact on sperm production. This also confirmed its folkloric claims.

Key words: Sesame-phytoestrogens, testis, epithelial hyperplasia, stereology, glucose profile.