title: Protective Effects ofPleurotus tuber-regiumon Carbon- Tetrachloride Induced Testicular Injury in Sprague Dawley Rats.
abstract: The high rate of male infertility and the meager resources to manage same in sub Saharan Africa have necessitated the search for cost effective and available alternatives. Mushrooms have been used traditionally in folk medicine and as nutraceuticals. This study has investigated the effect of the wild mushroomPleurotus tuber-regiumon carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) deleterious effects on the reproductive system of male rats. Thirty six rats were divided into six groups of six animals each. Group I (negative control) received 10 ml/kg olive oil intraperitoneal weekly in addition to feed and waterad libitum. Group II (positive control) received CCl410 ml/kg (30% in Olive oil) weekly. Group III, IV, and V received 100 mg, 20 0mg, and 500 mgP. tuber-regium(33.3% in feed) daily in addition to 10 ml/kg CCl4weekly. Group VI received 500 mgP. tuber-regium(33.3% in feed) daily. After 4 weeks, sperm motility, epididymal count and vitality were determined. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), testosterone, Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin and oestradiol were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Histopathologic examinations of the testis were carried out. Carbon tetrachloride significantly reduced the sperm motility (54.33 ± 3.79%), epididymal count (28.73 ± 2.86 × 106/ml, vitality (4.96 ± 0.62), LH (0.88 ± 0.14), FSH (2.04 ± 0.33), and Testosterone (2.02 ± 0.24) when compared with control (89.33 ± 9.01), 91.91 ± 1.92 × 106/ml, 13.12 ± 0.19, 2.74 ± 0.32, 3.64 ± 0.62, and 4.16 ± 0.23, respectively, which were reversed byP. tuber-regiumadministration. Co-administration ofP. tuber-regiumplus CCl4significantly reduced MDA level.P. tuber-regiumshowed dose dependent ameliorative activity against CCl4deleterious action on the testis and may be beneficial in the management of male infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kenneth O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Okolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Iyeopu M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Siminialayi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Orish E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Orisakwe
keywords: carbon tetrachloride treatment; male infertility; mushroom; sex hormone; testicular toxicity