title: Reproductive parameters are differentially altered following subchronic administration of Catha edulis F. (Khat) extract and cathinone in male rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Controversy surrounds on the effect of khat, a widely chewed herb for its stimulant effect on sexuality. This study investigated the effect of fresh Catha edulis F. (Khat) extract, synthetic cathinone and vehicle on reproductive parameters, including sexual motivation and performance, serum testosterone and cortisol levels, epididymal sperm count, and histoarchitecture of testis in male rats.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effect of fresh Catha edulis Forsk (Khat, Celastraceae) extract, synthetic cathinone and vehicle on reproductive parameters, including sexual motivation and performance, serum testosterone and cortisol levels, epididymal sperm count, and histoarchitecture of testis in male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were treated with either Tween 80 (3%, v/v) in water, khat extract (100mg/kg, K100; 200mg/kg, K200; and 300mg/kg, K300 doses) or cathinone (5mg/kg, CAT5) intragastrically for four weeks and subjected to a battery of behavioral tests. Three days following the last administration, blood was drawn for hormonal analysis and the animals were sacrificed for sperm count and morphologic-pathology studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  K100 significantly decreased mount latency (ML) (p<0.05) and intromission latency (IL) (p<0.01) compared to controls. K200 whilst significantly reduced IL (p<0.01) and intromission frequency (IF) (p<0.01), increased postejaculatory latency (PEL) (p<0.01). K300 significantly reduced IF (p<0.01) and ejaculatory latency (EL) (p<0.01), but increased mount frequency (MF), IL, PEL, and ML (p<0.01, in all cases). With CAT5, MF (p<0.05) and IL (p<0.01) were significantly greater but EL and IF were lower (p<0.05, in both cases) than controls. Serum levels of testosterone were doubled in K100 (p<0.01), but a significant decrease was recorded in both K200 (18%, p<0.01) and K300 (50%, p<0.01) rats. Whereas K100 did not have any effect on cortisol levels, K200 and K300 significantly increased by 83% (p<0.05) and 164.5% (p<0.01), respectively. CAT5 affected neither serum testosterone nor cortisol levels. Khat extract demonstrated a dose-dependent decline in epididymal sperm count: 50% with K100 (p<0.05), 78% with K200 (p<0.01) and 89% with K300 (p<0.01). CAT5 did not, however, produce any significant change in sperm count. Khat extract and cathinone did not produce any discernible damage on testis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mild dose of khat improves sexual motivation, without much effect on performance. With increasing dose, however, both motivation and performance are reduced. Although testosterone levels correlated well with motivation, there was dissociation with sperm count, indicating optimum level might be required for normal spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abubeker
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Ephrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engidawork
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D029754:Catha / Q000737:chemistry*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; C023665:cathinone; D006854:Hydrocortisone