title: Ultrastructural changes induced by leaves of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in the testis of albino rats.
abstract: The present work was designed to study the effect of Azadirachta indica (Neem) powder on rat testis using the electron microscope. Male albino rats received 100 mg each A. indica leaf powder orally (by gavage). On alternate days, a second group of rats received 0.125 mg testosterone dipropionate intramuscularly. A third group received both A. indica leaf powder by gavage and testosterone dipropionate intramuscularly. Suitable controls were maintained. After autopsy, ultrastructural analysis of the testis revealed that animals treated with testosterone dipropionate showed well-developed Sertoli cells and germ cells with well-developed cytoplasmic organelles. By contrast, in A. indica-treated rats, intracellular spaces and vacuolization were observed in Sertoli cells; whereas in Leydig cells, cytoplasmic inclusions appeared diminished, and the configuration of granular endoplasmic reticulum appeared as a single unbranched tubule. In late spermatids, defects were observed in the mitochondrial sheath. The ultrastructural changes seen in the A. indica-treated group provide a clue that A. indica leaves might affect spermatogenesis through antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic properties.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Department of Zoology Karnatak University, Dharwad 580 003, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasturi
authors.forename: R Nazeer
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Ahamed
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pathan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Manivannan
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Aladakatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031601:Azadirachta / Q000737:chemistry*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013087:Spermatids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone