EFFECT OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn. SEED ON SPERM COUNT OF ADULT WISTAR RATS

Aim: To determine the effect of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina (TC) seed on sperm count of adult wistar rats after inducing them with Testosterone “T” and oestradiol “E2”.

Methodology: 20 adult Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (Control, “CTRL”, Induced “ID”, High dose extract “HD/TC”, Low dose extract “LD/TC”) with five animals in each group. The rats’ weights were between 150 g - 320 g. 400 ng/ml of Oestradiol and 1250 ng/ml of Testosterone per 100 g body weight were simultaneously injected subcutaneously via the inguinal region for 3 weeks in alternate days. After the hormonal administration, two rats each from groups CTRL and ID were sacrificed and the numbers of sperm cells were compared. Animals in groups HD/TC and LD/TC were treated with the extract, based on their body weights for 3 weeks. Thereafter, animals were sacrificed and the epididymis crushed in saline solution, for the sperm cells to swim out. The saline solution was then placed on the sperm counting chamber, afterwards viewed under a light microscope.

Results: Simultaneous induction of the rats with T and E2 caused significant decrease in the value of sperm cells in the induced rats.

Conclusion: The combined administration of T and E2 almost rendered the rats azoospermic, as the rate of spermatogenesis was massively decreased in induced rats. This may confirm the contraceptive influence of these hormones (when administered exogenously). However, this effect seems irreversible even as at when the extract was administered.