Eur J Anat, 22 (6): 497-507 (2018)

Histochemical and morphometric evidences of the curative role of aqueous zest extract of Citrus sinensis on anti-neoplastic drug-induced testicular degeneration in animal models

Gabriel G. Akunna¹, Emma N. Obikili², G.E. Anyawu², Emmanuel A. Esom³

¹Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, ²Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study examined the curative effects of aqueous zest extract of Citrus sinensis and Cisplatin (CIS)-induced testicular degeneration. Sixteen male Wistar rats (10 to 12 weeks old) weighing 306-238 g were used in this study. The animals were divided as follows: Group A was treated orally with 2.5 ml/kg body weight/daily; Group B was treated with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight; Group C and D rats were given a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight of cisplatin and then treated orally with 10 and 40 mg/kg body weight of aqueous zest extract of Citrus sinensis. The procedure lasted for 8 weeks.Results showed a significant (p< 0.05) decrease in final body weight, testis weight, testis weight/body weight ratio, normal sperm morphology (p<0.01) and a significant decrease in tubular diameter (p > 0.01), perimeter (p > 0.01 and) and length (p > 0.001), width (p >0.05) and increase (p > 0.05), germinal epithelia height, cross-sectional area, number of profiles per unit area and numerical density of seminiferous tubules. Rats that were treated with CIS alone without pre-treatment or post-treatment with extract showed marked degeneration and atrophied seminiferous tubules with absence of late stage germ cells. There was also a reduction in PAS-positive materials of the rats treated with Cisplatin. These parameters were however ameliorated in the groups that were post-treated with the aqueous zest extract of Citrus sinensis. This could have been as a result of its antioxidant and free radical scavenging potentials.

Keywords: Citrus sinensis peel â?? Cisplatin â?? Testes â?? Oxidative stress â?? Immunohistochemistry â?? Infertility