Evaluation of the potential antifertility effect of fenugreek seeds in male and female rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential antifertility activity of feeding diets containing 30% fenugreek seeds to male and female white New Zealand rabbits.


RESULTS
The data presented in this study clearly demonstrate an antifertility effect of fenugreek seeds in the female rabbits and more of a toxicity effect in the male rabbits. In males, testis weight was reduced, with evident damage to the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues as shown by the histopathology of testis tissue sections. In addition, the plasma concentration of the androgen hormone and sperm concentrations were halved in the treated animals. In the case of the females, there was evidence of a significant reduction of developing fetuses as observed by reductions of both fetal and placental weights at 20 days of gestation and of the litter size. This was further supported histopathologically by the observed proliferative changes of the endometrial glands. The circulating plasma progesterone concentrations at 10 and 20 days of gestation significantly increased with no significant effect on the prebreeding estrogen concentrations in the treated animals.
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sana'a, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen.
Amira
A
Kassem
Abdulwali
A
Al-Aghbari
Molham
M
AL-Habori
Mohammed
M
Al-Mamary
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011817:Rabbits; D012639:Seeds / Q000633:toxicity*; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000662:veterinary*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D029910:Trigonella / Q000633:toxicity*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D011374:Progesterone