title: Effect of papaya seed extract on microenvironment of cauda epididymis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of aqueous Carica papaya seed extract on microenvironment of cauda epididymis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male albino rats were intramuscularly administered with 0 (control) or 0.5 mg papaya seed extract/kg body weight for 7 days. Cauda epididymal tubular content was collected by micropuncture technique; epididymal luminal fluid and sperm pellets were separately analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that the extract treatment caused significant reduction, as compared with control, in total protein and sialic acid contents in both epididymal fluid and sperm pellet. As compared with control, significantly lowered acid phosphatase activity was recorded in sperm pellet but was higher in epididymal fluid after the treatment. The extract treatment also caused significant reduction in level of inorganic phosphorus in the epididymal fluid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that the aqueous papaya seed extract alters cauda epididymal microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India. zooldeptgu@satyam.net.in
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Chinoy
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism; D029441:Carica / Q000737:chemistry*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid