HISTOMORPHOMETRIC AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECTOF CALOTROPIS PROCERA (GIANT MILKWEED) ON THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Histomorphometric and histopathological evaluations of the effects of fresh leaf extract of Calotropis procera on the 
reproductive organs of male wistar rats given 20mg\gm body weight of the extract once daily, orally, for varying 
number of days showed varying degrees of desquamation of seminiferous epithelial cells, degeneration of 
seminiferous tubules and presence of large-sized multinucleated cells as well as significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the 
seminiferous tubular diameter. The epididymis of the test rats showed cell debris, numerous immature round cells 
and pinkish homogenous material in the lumens while the epithelia appeared normal. There was a general reduction 
in the mean ductular and luminal diameter while fluctuating changes were observed in the epithelial height of the 
epididymis of treated rats. The accessory glands of test rats showed pinkish homogenous fluid as well as 
inflammatory cells in the lumen and glandular degeneration of the seminal vesicles. The result from this study 
revealed that Calotropis procera has a potentially deleterious effect on the testes and accessory sex organs.