Amelioration of Histopathological Effect of Lead Induced Testicular Damage by Vernonia Amygdalina Leaves

Vernonia amygdalina is a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is well known antioxidant that plays a major role in African ethnomedicine. A total of twenty one male wistar rats were used to study the attenuation of the histopathological effect of lead induced testicular damage. Twenty one rats were randomly distributed to the three groups. Group I served as control. Group II received 50mg/kg of lead acetate and group III received 50mg/kg of lead acetate and 50mg/kg of Vernonia amygdalina given together. The experiment lasted for twenty one days. Results revealed normal testicular architecture and sperm count, morphology and motility in the normal control. Group II showed alteration of germinal epithelium, distortion of seminiferous tubules as well as lack of proper spermatogenic series. There was also a significant reduction in sperm analysis parameters in this group. The effects of the extracts of Vernonia amygdalina on the rats’ testes showed improvements compared to both the control and lead treated group in all parameters measured. We therefore, conclude that leave extract of Vernonia amygdalina prevented to a certain degree, the advert effects of lead acetate on the testicular tissue.