title: Effects of Carica papaya (paw paw) seeds extract on the morphology of pituitary-gonadal axis of male Wistar rats.
abstract: The effects of oral administration of Carica papaya seeds extract on the morphology of pituitary, testes and sex accessory glands were studied. The C. papaya extract (50 and 200 mg/kg/day) was administered orally to sexually mature male Wistar rats for 1 and 8 weeks, respectively. The control group received corn oil (vehicle) only. The animals were killed after 1 and 8 weeks treatment for histological preparation. The microscopic examination of the sections of pituitary gonadotrophs (FSH and LH cells) treated with 200 mg/kg of C. papaya extract showed pronounced hypertrophy, while section of rats treated with 50 mg/kg showed mild hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Whereas the testes of rats treated with C. papaya extract at 50 and 200 mg/kg revealed gradual degeneration of germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells as well as germinal epithelium. However, tubules of epididymes of rats treated with extract, 200 mg/kg, appeared empty indicating the degeneration of sperm cells in the lumina. The sections of prostate glands of rats treated with 200 mg/kg extract showed coagulation of secretion in the lumina as well as empty tubules with cell debris, while the effect was reduced in rats treated with 50 mg/kg. The seminal vesicles showed progressive collapse and shrinkage of villi. These results suggest that C. papaya extract interfered with the pituitary - gonadal axis to influence male reproductive functions, which confirmed its antifertility property as reported previously.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Calabar, CRS, Nigeria. pdudoh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Udoh
authors.forename: Itohowo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Essien
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Udoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029441:Carica; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts