BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN EPIDIDYMIS FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH COMBINED EXTRACTS OF AMARANTHUS SPINOSUS ROOTS AND DOLICHOS BIFLORUS SEEDS

Combined extracts of Amaranthus spinosus roots and Dolichos biflorus seeds at two different doses were administered to adult male rats to assess the structural and functional activity of epididymis. Biochemical studies were made throughout the experiment. Sperm motility was decreased markedly in the cauda epididymal fluid and the sperm counts were reduced in both caput and caudal segments. Epididymal weights, activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase and total LDH were decreased after high dose treatment in both the segments after 10 days of treatment. Protein concentrations were appreciably increased at both doses in the caput and at low dose only in the cauda segment. A reduction in sperm concentration was observed at both doses in cauda but only at high doses in caput. Thus, the herbal extracts impaired the structural and functional integrity of the epididymis.