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ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of food-grade carrageenan on the pituitary-gonadal axis and epididymis of adult Wistar rats. Sixty-seven (67) adult male Wistar rats weighing 180-210g were procured and kept in cages in the animal house of the Department of Anatomy, University of Benin. Twelve (12) rats were used for acute toxicity. Fifty-five (55) rats used for the main study were assigned into two experimental units. Unit 1 comprises of thirty-five (35) rats randomly assigned into four (4) groups. The control group (Group A) had five (5) rats while each treatment groups (B-D) had ten (10) rats each. Based on duration of administration, each treatment group in unit 1 was further subdivided into two groups of five rats each; Sub-group one (1) was treated with k-cgn for 8 weeks (B1-D1), while Subgroup two (2) was treated for 8 weeks, and treatment was withdrawn to evaluate possible reversal effect (B2-D2). Unit 11: comprises of twenty (20) rats treated with k-cgn for 16 weeks. The rats were randomly assigned into four groups (A-D) of five (5) each. Group A was the control groups B-D received 500 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of k-cgn for 16 weeks. At the end of the treatment period the rats were sacrificed using chloroform anesthesia. Blood samples were collected and used for profiling of pituitary hormones and sex steroid. Sperm aspirates were retrieved from the vas deferens for analysis. The pituitary gland, testis and epididymis were harvested and fixed in 10% formal saline for histological analysis, Part of the testis and epididymis were homogenized and used for analysis of antioxidant activities. Results showed that there were no statistically significant (p>0.05) change in body weight, testicular and epididymal weights of rats treated with k-cgn; Assay of Pituitary hormones showed significant increase (p<0.05) in FSH level in rats treated with 750 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of k-cgn for all groups compared to control. There was no significant change in LH level across all treatment groups compared to control (p>0.05). However, Prolactin levels significantly increased (p<0.05) in all treatment groups compared to control. Sex steroid profiling showed that testosterone significantly decreased (p<0.05) in rats treated with 1000 mg/kg body weight of k-cgn while the serum level of progesterone and estradiol did not show any significant change (P>0.05) in all treatment groups compared to control. Analysis of sperm parameter showed that total sperm count and progressive motility significantly decreased (p<0.05) for all treatment groups compared to control. However, the percentage immotility, abnormal morphology and sperm deformity index increased significantly (p<0.05) while sperm livability decreased significantly (p<0.05) for all treatment groups compared to control. Antioxidant analysis showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum level of Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase for all treatment groups compared to control while serum level of superoxide dismutase showed no significant change compared to control for both testicular and epididymal tissues There was significant increase (p<0.05) in malondialdehyde activities across all treatment groups for testicular and epididymal tissues compared with control. Fecundity rate assessed via mating treated male rats and untreated female rats, showed positive outcomes for control group however, the outcomes reduced at dose dependent level across all treatment groups. Histological study of the pituitary showed moderate to severe degree of atrophy of basophils with hyperplasia of acidophils and chromophobes, there was evidence of cloudy swelling of basophils with autolysis observed in withdrawal group. Testicular tissues showed reduction in mature sperm cells within the lumen of the seminiferous tubules especially in groups treated with 1000 mg/kg k-cgn. Presence of indeterminate cells was observed in dose dependent manner which depicts spermatogenic and maturation arrest. The epididymis showed mild to moderate reduction of sperm cells within the lumen of the ductules, with presence of inflammatory cells within the stroma at varying degrees, more conspicuous in groups treated with 1000 mg/kg kcgn. Most of the effects of k-cgn treatment was not reversed but rather accentuated in dose dependent manner observed in the withdrawal groups. It can therefore be concluded k-cgn exerted 29 a negative spermatogenic effect on treated male Wistar rats. K-CGN cannot therefore be used as a reversible antifertility agent in males.
