Histomorphometric effects of Kigelia africana (Bignoniaceae) fruit extract on the testis following short-term treatment with cisplatin in male Sprague–Dawley rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term effects of Kigelia africana fruit extract (KAFE) on cisplatin-induced testicular histo-morphometric changes in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats.DesignThis is an experimental animal study.Materials and methodsFifty-seven male SD rats were acclamatized and grouped into 10 of five rats per group. Each rat was administered either KAFE in 100 and 500mg/kg doses orally or cisplatin 10mg/kg i.p. or normal saline to controls. Experiment was terminated after 28days by i.p. injection of ketamin 50mg/kg. Testicular tissue was processed for histological and morphometric analyses while catalase enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels were assayed accordingly. Sperm count/motility was also assessed.ResultsCisplatin treatment caused over 37.5% mortality of SD rats. Qualitative histological assessment showed no deleterious changes following treatment with KAFE alone or as a pre-treatment with cisplatin. KAFE post-treatment resulted in focal vacuolar changes in the seminiferous tubules (ST) of the SD rats. Cisplatin-treatment negatively affected the histoarchitecture of the seminiferous tubules with massive loss of spermatogenic cells. There was also a significant reduction in testicular weight/volume, ST diameter and cross-sectional areas (P<0.001) but KAFE positively improved these parameters. KAFE alone and as prophylaxis significantly increased body weight, serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (P<0.001). It showed a significant elevation in catalase activity, decline in malondialdehyde and up-regulated glutathione levels (P<0.001). These parameters were negatively affected by cisplatin treatment.ConclusionThe cytoprotection against cisplatin-induced testicular damage by KAFE is likely via an antioxidant modulatory pathway. Also, it is possible that KAFE possesses an androgen-stimulating property.