EFFECTS OF FRACTIONSFROM CRUDE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OFAZADIRACHTA INDICA (NEEM)LEAF ON SPERMIOGRAM, TESTOSTERONE PROFILE, TESTES HISTOLOGY AND HAEMATOLOGYOF NEW ZEALAND WHITE RABBIT BUCKS
EFFECTS OF FRACTIONSFROM CRUDE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OFAZADIRACHTA INDICA (NEEM)LEAF ON SPERMIOGRAM, TESTOSTERONE PROFILE, TESTES HISTOLOGY AND HAEMATOLOGYOF NEW ZEALAND WHITE RABBIT BUCKS
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Date
2021-02
Authors
UMAR, MOHAMMED SAIFULLAH
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Abstract
The effects of different fractionsfrom methanolic extract of Azadirachta indica (neems) leaves
on spermatogenesis, testicular histology, testosterone concentration and haematological
parameters in New Zealand white rabbits were evaluated in this study. Crude extract of the
powdered leaves of neem (Azadirachta Indica) was extracted using methanol and further
fractionated using hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and butanol. Twenty five matured New
Zealand white rabbit bucks wererandomly assigned to five groups (A, B, C, D, and E). Group A
rabbits served as control and were administered only distilled water, while groups B, C, D and E,
rabbits representing the hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and butanol groups, respectively, were
administered fractions from the respective solventextracts at similar dose rate of 300mg/kg.
Semen samples were collected using artificial vagina weekly for fourteen weeks and were
immediately evaluated for parameters such as volume, colour, motility, concentration, and
percentage live ratio. Five millilitres of blood sample was collected from each rabbit buck
through venipuncture of the ear vein three times during the experimental period, that was at the
beginning, middle and end of the experiment for determination of haematological parameters.
Serum sample was also harvested from the collected blood for determination of testosterone
concentration. Two rabbit bucks from each group were humanely sacrificed at the end of the
experiment for testicular histology. Data collected were analysed using graph pad prism software
version 5.0 and P values, ≤0.05 were considered statically significant between treatment groups
and the control. No significant difference (P≥0.05) was observed in mean sperm motility
between the control group (90.00±2.04%) and treated groups B (84.33±5.36%), D
(90.00±4.40%) and E (95.00±0.00%) at first week. However, significant (P<0.05) decrease in
sperm motility was recorded from the treatment group C that receive chloroform fraction
(00.68±1.64%) when compared with the control group (90.00±2.04%) at the end of the
experiment.Although, no significance differences (p>0.05) were observed in semen volume
between the treatment groups and the control group. However, numerical decrease in semen
volume that is not significant (P>0.05) was observed in group C which was treated with
chloroform fraction. Significant difference (P<0.05) in sperm concentration and sperm
abnormalities were observed between the control group and the treatment groups. No significant
(P>0.05) difference were observed in testosterone concentration between the various treatment
group and the control group, however, there was gradual decrease in plasma concentration of
testosterone values in the treatment groups when compared with the control group. Significant
differences (P<0.05) in haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, red and white blood
cell counts were observed between the treatment groups and the control. There was a significant
decrease (P<0.05) in red blood cell count in the treatment groups; hexane fraction
(5.70±0.07×1012/L), Chloroform extract (5.28±0.02×1012/L), ethylacetate fraction
(5.52±0.00×1012/L) and butanol fraction (4.81±0.00×1012/L) compared with the control
(6.54±0.00×1012/L), however, the values are within the normal haematological range values for
the New Zealand white rabbit. Testicular degeneration, depletion and vacuolation of
spermatogenic cell layers were observed in treatment group with chloroform fraction. However,
other treated groups did not show difference from the control with intact and prominent
seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic layers at different stages of division. Further studies
need to be conducted to validate this findings and also to isolate specific antifertility agent(s)
from chloroform fraction.
The study showed that chloroform fraction of crude methanolic Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf
extract was detrimental to spermatogenesis, which significantly reduced gross semen motility
and testicular histology, while butanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions had no significant
effect on semen characteristics, histology and androgen profile of New Zealand white rabbit
bucks.All the fractions from crude methanol neem leaf extract significantly reduce the PCV and
RBC count but had no significant effect on testosterone concentration in the New Zealand white
rabbit bucks
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE
DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THERIOGENOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF THERIOGENOLOGY AND PRODUCTION,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
EFFECTS OF FACTIONS,, CRUDE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OFAZADIRACHTA INDICA,, LEAF ON SPERMIOGRAM,, TESTOSTERONE PROFILE,, TESTES HISTOLOGY AND HAEMATOLOGY,, NEW ZEALAND WHITE RABBIT BUCKS