Open AccessEffects of Tahitian Noni dietary supplement on caffeine-induced testicular histo-pathological alterations in adult Sprague-Dawley rats
Author(s) -
Rosemary B. Bassey,
Oshiozokhai Eboetse Yama,
AA Osinubi,
Carmel Cressie Noronha,
A O Okanlawon
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
middle east fertility society journal/middle east fertility society journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.322
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2090-3251
pISSN - 1110-5690
DOI - 10.1016/j.mefs.2010.11.003
Subject(s) - caffeine , body weight , medicine , endocrinology
Objective: To investigate the possible ameliorating effect of Tahitian Noni dietary supplement on caffeine-induced testicular histopathological alterations in Sprague-Dawley rats.Design: This is an experimental animal study.Methods: Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, weighing between 105 and 200g were acclimatized and grouped into six of five rats per group. Group 1 was the control. Group 2 received 200mg/kg of caffeine for 8weeks, Group 3 received 200mg/kg of caffeine for 4weeks and 5ml/kg of Noni for another 4weeks, Group 4 received both 200mg/kg of caffeine and 5ml/kg of Noni for 8weeks, Group 5 received 5ml/kg of Noni for 8weeks, Group 6 received 5ml/kg of Noni for 4weeks and 200mg/kg of caffeine for another 4weeks.Results: Tahitian Noni caused a statistically significant increase in the mean body weight of the SD rats, opposed to the groups treated with caffeine. There was also a statistically significant increase in the testicular weight, sperm count and motility in the SD rats treated with Noni compared to those treated with caffeine. Caffeine negatively affected the histo-architecture of the seminiferous tubules with massive loss of spermatogenic cells while the groups exposed to Noni tended towards normal when compared with the control.Conclusions: Administration of Tahitian Noni dietary supplement ameliorates the testicular toxicities caused by a high dose of caffeine