European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MITIGATING EFFECT OF PUNARNAVA (BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA L.) ON LIGHT AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC ALTERATIONS IN CAUDA EPIDIDYMIS OF FLUOROTIC RATS

Shashi A.* and Imtiaza Khan

ABSTRACT

Epididymis provides important place for spermatozoa maturation, which is essential for successful fertilization. The present study was focused to investigate the effect of oral administration of sodium fluoride (NaF) on histology of cauda epididymis of rats. Adult male rats weighing 100-150g were administered with sodium fluoride at three different doses 100, 200 and 300 ppm/kg body weight, orally, daily for 40 days. At the end of the experimental period, half of the animals were sacrificed and their cauda epididymis was removed. Remaining half rats were post treated with two doses (250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight) of leaf extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L. for 20 days. Both light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that there was dose dependent increase in histopathological anomalies in cauda epididymis of NaF treated groups as compared to control. Basement membrane was disrupted; vacuoles were present in the germinal epithelial cells. The interstitium cell mass was reduced and widely spaced. The ductus epididymis revealed hyperplasia. Disintegration of connective tissue, vacuolation of germinal epithelium, focal infoldings of the epithelium with pseudoglandular structure in caudal epithelium were also observed. Lumen diameter was reduced and it was filled with very few spermatozoa and large number of exfoliated germ cells. The inflammatory infiltrate with lymphoid aggregates were prominent. However, NaF groups post treated with leaf extract of Boerhaavia diffusa L. showed normal architecture of cauda epididymis. The present study suggests that fluoride exerted alterations in histology of cauda epididymis was ameliorated by the administration of Boerhaavia diffusa L. extract.

Keywords: Boerhaavia diffusa L., Cauda epididymis, Fluoride, Scanning electron microscopy, Pathology, Rats.