EVALUATION OF ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF NICOTINE ON LIBIDO AND SPERM QUALITIES IN MALE WISTAR RATS.
Amah-Tariah F. S., Onyukwu V. O. and *Olorunfemi O. J.
ABSTRACT
The burden of implication of Nicotine-laden cigarette on human reproductive cells and sexual performance is legendary and whether or not nicotine is directly involved remains to be unraveled hence, this study was designed to investigate effects of oral administration of nicotine on libido and sperm qualities of male wistar rats. Twenty (20) male were used for the study with each rat weighing between 80-160g. The rats were obtained from the Experimental Animal Unit of the Department of Human Physiology, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and were housed in conventional wire mesh cages under normal day/light cycle. The animals were allowed free access to water and feed throughout the period of the experiment. The male rats were divided into four (4) groups, with each group consisting of five (5) rats each as follows; Group 1(the control group); receive 0.2 ml/kg normal saline for four weeks. Group 2: received 0.5mg/kg of Nicotine for four weeks. Group 3(Test group 2); received 1mg/kg of Nicotine for four weeks. Group 4(Test group 3); received 1.5mg/kg of Nicotine for four weeks. Libido test was carried out and semen collection was done using standard procedures, sperm characteristics (i.e count, motility, viability, morphology and volume) were studied with a standard apparatus, procedures and method. Evaluation of administration of nicotine on libido and sperm qualities in male wistar rats was investigated and the results of this investigation demonstrated that nicotine has deleterious effects on the reproductive functions of male rats, sufficient to cause reversible infertility. Viability (percentage of live sperms) was also reduced in rats with the three different doses of nicotine used in the study in a dose-dependent manner. Fertility studies show a significant decrease in the libido score of rats treated with nicotine. The reduction in sperm viability is a function of reduction in the progressive sperm motility. The present study revealed that nicotine-treatment in male rats could affect the significantly, sperm qualities, fertility potential and libido by untreated female rats. Rats treated with nicotine for 30 days had a decreased sperm motility.
Keywords: Nicotine, sperm qualities, Libido, Fertility, sperm motility.
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