Histoarchitecture and Biochemical Studies of Epididymis in Male Rats Induced by Aqueous Extract of Jussiaea Repens L

Different herbal Plants are used globally for safe and natural source of medicine from ancient ages. Jussiaea repens L, is a medicinal herb that has been reported to have non toxic antigonadal activity, which reduced the sperm count, motility, viability and morphological alteration of spermatozoa in rats. It also alters histoarchitechture visà-vis functions of testicular tissues by altering the biochemical and hormonal profile. The present study was designed to evaluate whether J.repens crude aqueous extract treatment affects the histoarchitecture of epididymis and its biochemical alterations which are correlated with sperm maturation, as the relationship between spermatozoa and microenviroimient of epididymis during the sperms remain in it, is important for male fertility. Adult male albino rats were fed crude aqueous extract of Jussiaea repens at the dose of 200mg/kg b.wt /day for 28 days consecutively, which caused significant reduction in epididymal sialic acid, glycogen, phospholipid, GSH, and testosterone level. But no change in total lipid and MDA level. Histological studies of epididymis showed the epithelial lining and basement membrane was thin and disrupted, the luminal diameter, epithelial height and nuclear diameter significantly reduced in treated group compare to control. So, from these studies it may be concluded that JR extract altering the hormone and bio-molecular level which was reflected on histological alteration of epididymal tissue including spermatozoa and microenvironment during their sperm remain in the epididymis leads to infertility and all the effects were reversible on withdrawal of treatment. INTRODUCTION: Various herbal plants have been used globally for safe and natural source of medicines including for inducing infertility. Many hormonal preparations are available for this purpose as contraceptives but have lots of side effects. So, cheap, safe, effective, easily available, low cost and easily administrable oral herbal contraceptives are mostly preferable. Many researchers globally are trying to develop male herbal contraceptive from natural sources 1, 2 . QUICK RESPONSE CODE DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.7(5).2209-18 Article can be accessed online on: www.ijpsr.com DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.7 (5).2209-18 Jussiaea repens L is such an herb which is widely distributed in different countries. In India, it is known by different names i.e., Keshardam (Bengali), Kessara (Hindi), Ising Kundo (Manipuri), Pani khutora (Assamese), Nircharambu (Malayalam), Neerudantu ( Kannada), Jadelo (Nepali ), Neeti theegalu ( Telugu ) 3 . In our previous study we reported that oral administration of this plant extract in rats has no toxicity and affects the sperm quality, sperm morphology which was reflected through significant reduction in fertility rate. Our studies also showed that antifertile activity of this herb on male reproductive system is due to alterations of biochemical parameters in serum and testicular level and thus it may act as herbal male antifertility agent 4 . Recently we reported that the crude