Ameliorating Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Citrullus Lanatus on Lead Acetate-Induced Testicular Damage In Adult Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Citrullus lanatus has attracted considerable attention by researchers and has been reported to have strong anti-oxidant activities. This study was aimed at investigating the ameliorative effects of C. lanatus leaf extract on lead acetate-induced testicular damage in adult male Wistar rats. Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups. Group A served as control, groups B and C were administered 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, group D was treated with 50mg/kg body weight of lead acetate only while groups E and F were administered 100mg/kg body weight and 50mg/kg body weight of lead acetate and 200mg/kg body weight and 50mg/kg body weight of lead acetate respectively for a period of 56 days. Thereafter, blood sample was collected from the inferior vena cava into plain sterile bottle for antioxidant analysis, testes and epididymes were harvested, weighed and fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histopathological analysis. Result showed that the groups treated with low and high doses of the extract in addition to lead acetate showed remarkable antioxidant properties when compared to the group treated with lead acetate only. Histological analysis revealed that the cytoarchitecture of the testis and epididymis in the group treated with the low and high doses of the extract together with lead acetate were less deranged compared to the rats treated with lead acetate only. In conclusion, it was noted that the antioxidant properties of Citrullus lanatus is protective of the testes against lead acetate toxicity in Wistar rats.