ABSTRACT
In recent times, male infertility has been on the increase. This has been linked with exposure to environmental toxicants. Effect of environmental toxicant on spermatogenesis is attracting global attention. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) a well-known plasticizer is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant known to adversely affect male reproduction, leading to infertility. Despite the mechanical techniques used in the management of this condition, infertility has continued to rise. This study was designed to explore the mechanism by which DBP exerts its effect and to investigate the ameliorative effect of aqueous-methanol leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium (GLE) on DBP-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.
Twenty eight (28) male albino rats (wistar strain) were used for this study. They were randomly divided into four experimental groups; Group 1 which served as the control, Group 2 received only DBP500mg/kgbw, Group 3 received DBP+ GLE 400mg/kgbw and Group 4 received DBP + GLE 500mg/kgbw. The administration was carried out by gavage for 14 days consecutively.
The results revealed that DBPsignificantly (P < 0.05) increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation in both testes and prostate. It also significantly increased the number of sperm cells deformity, testicular cholesterol, plasma testosterone and T/LH ratio while, sperm count, sperm motility, plasma LH and LH/T ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced relative to control. Histopathology revealed that DBP caused distortion in testes architecture with marked seminiferous tubules and leydig cells degeneration, vascular damage, ulceration and fibrosis of anterior pituitary-testicular artery and leydig cell hyperplasia. Prostate presented distortion of the acini with ulceration of blood vessels and consequent haemorrhage into the lumen of the prostatic gland. Treatment with aqueous-methanol leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium (GLE) provided significant degree of protection from DBP-induced testicular toxicity with the 400mg/kg body weight treatment being the most effective dose in this study.
