Histomorphometric evaluation of seminiferous tubules and stereological assessment of germ cells in testes following administration of aqueous leaf-extract of Lawsonia inermis on aluminium-induced oxidative stress in adult Wistar rats

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the 'Cytoprotective effect of Lawsonia inermis aqueous leaf-extract on aluminium-induced Oxidative stress in Histomorphometric of the Seminiferous tubule and Stereology of Germ Cells of adult male Wistar rats', assessing its effect on the Histomorphometry of the Seminiferous tubule and Stereology of Germ Cells. METHODS: Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats, weighing between 100-196g, and fifteen mice of the same weight range were used. Lawsonia inermis extracts and aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)) were administered for a period of three (3) weeks, with Five (5) rats per group. Group 1 (control), received rat pellets and distilled water. Group 2 received 60mg/kg/d aqueous extract. Group 3 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl(3). Group 4 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl(3) and 60mg/kg/d of aqueous extract orally. Group 5 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl(3) and 75mg/kg/d of aqueous extract orally. Group 6 received 0.5mg/kg/d of AlCl(3) and 100mg/kg/d of aqueous extract orally. Group 7 received 0.5mg/k/d of AlCl(3) and 5mg/Kg/d of ascorbic acid orally. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, sedated with chloroform and blood was collected. The testes were removed and weighed. RESULTS: There were statistically significant changes in the percentage of seminiferous tubular and seminiferous ductal diameter within the experimental animals in all the groups (p<0.05). Stereological findings revealed increase in spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, round Spermatids and elongated spematids, spermatozoa, Sertoli cells population of the control rats while the rats given 0.5mg of aluminum chloride per kg of body weight had the lowest value (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, we demonstrated the affected histomorphometry of the seminiferous tubule and stereology of germ cells in testes, where stress impacts were most felt and subsequently translated into drastic reproductive dysfunction and distortion of spermatogenesis.