title: Cocos nucifera L. water improves reproductive indices in Wistar Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explored the effects of Cocos nucifera L. water (CW) on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) and fertility in Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male and female Wistar rats were treated orally as follows; Study 1: Group 1: control (distilled water), group 2: 20 ml/kg corn oil (danazol vehicle), group 3: 20 ml/kg CW, group 4: 40 ml/kg CW, group 5: danazol, group 6: danazol + 20 ml/kg CW and group 7: danazol + 40 ml/kg CW. 200 mg/ kg danazol was administered. Serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and testosterone; gonadal weights and sperm indices were assessed. Study 2: Group 1: control (distilled water), group 2: 20 ml/kg CW, group 3: 40 ml/kg CW for 6 and 2 weeks prior to mating in male and female rats respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant (p < 0.05) increases in estradiol concentration were observed in groups 3, 4, 6 and 7. Significant reductions in LH, FSH, estradiol and testosterone levels were observed in group 5 which were ameliorated in groups 6 and 7. Males showed significant increases in sperm count and motility in groups 3, 4, 6 and 7, and reductions in these variables along with viability in group 5. CW pre-treatment increased fecundity index and proportion of female pups from dams, while the pups from sires showed higher birth weights.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CW acts on the HPG to positively influence reproductive function in both males and females and may aid in maternal preconception sex selection of female offspring.
authors.forename: O T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Kunle-Alabi
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Akindele
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Oyovwi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Duro-Ladipo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Raji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D010936:Plant Extracts