European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 24 - Number 5
Eur J Anat, 24 (5): 429-437 (2020)

Aqueous peel extract of Citrus aurantifolia attenuated tramadol-mediated testicular oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammations and histo-architectural degeneration in a rat model

Gabriel Akunna1, Philip Ihechu1, Akinola Ajeleti1, Olaleye Olabiyi1, Ademola Famurewa2, Linus Enye3, Amos Morakinyo1

1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences,Bowen Univer-sity, Iwo, Osun State, 2Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, 3Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State

ABSTRACT Tramadol is one of the most commonly abused drugs. It has been reported to impair testicular function in models. Citrus aurantifolia is a citrus fruit used extensively in beverages and herbal preparations. This study investigated the modulat-ing role of aqueous zest extract of Citrus aurantifo-lia (AZECA) against tramadol-mediated testicular toxicity in rat. Twenty-five male rats were assigned to 5 groups and orally treated with distilled water (negative control) for 28 days, 30mg/kg of tra-madol (positive control) for 14 days, 30 mg/kg of tramadol for first two weeks and 50 (treatment 1) and 100 mg/kg (treatment 1) of AZECA for the last 2 weeks. Biochemical markers were evaluated and testes were stained routinely for morphometry. Results shows a significant (p<0.05) decrease in testosterone, FSH and LH, SOD, CAT and a signif-icant increase MDA, IL-1 and TNF-∝ evidenced by a significant (p<0.05) reduction in volumetric proportion of interstitium and seminiferous tubules-tunica propria, macrophages, blood vessels and lymphatic space, macrophages, connective tissue, diameter, cross-sectional area and number of pro-files of seminiferous tubules per unit area in group treated with tramadol-alone. These parameters were significantly (p<0.05) negated in groups that had AZECA supplementation. This study has demonstrated that treatment with AZECA exerted a potent testiculo-protective activity against tra-madol-induced testicular injury in rats.

Keywords: Testes â?? Oxidative stress â?? Infertility â?? Citrus aurantifolia â?? Tramadol

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)