Premium
Ultrastructural changes in the testis and epididymis of rats following treatment with the benzene chromatographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya
Author(s) -
Manivannan B.,
Mishra P. K.,
Pathak N.,
Sriram S.,
Bhande S. S.,
Panneerdoss S.,
Lohiya N. K.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1386
Subject(s) - epididymis , cytoplasm , endoplasmic reticulum , subcellular localization , golgi apparatus , sertoli cell , sperm , biology , microsome , motility , ultrastructure , andrology , microbiology and biotechnology , vesicle , sperm motility , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , spermatogenesis , anatomy , membrane , in vitro , botany
The benzene chromatographic fraction of the chloroform extract of the seeds of Carica papaya at a dose of 10 mg/rat/day for 150 days, which has shown a total inhibition of motility, reduced sperm count and infertility, was tested to dene the mode of action at the subcellular level in the testis and epididymis. The ultrastructure of the testis of the treated animals revealed no appreciable changes in the subcellular characteristics. The mechanism of protein synthesis as well as steroidogenesis were evident in the Sertoli cells while the spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids, both round and elongated, depicted a prominent nucleus, distinct nuclear membrane and cytoplasmic characteristics indicating normal germ cell differentiation. The principal cells of the cauda epididymis were characterized by the presence of well‐dened rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi bodies and secretary granules, suggesting active secretory functions. The absorptive function of the cauda epididymis was evidenced by the presence of numerous vesicles and multivesicular bodies adjacent to stereocilia. It is concluded that the inhibition of sperm motility by the drug could be due to other epididymal factors rather than the subcellular characteristics of testis and epididymis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.