AIMTo evaluate the effect of Schistosoma intercalatum infestation on the testicular function of mice.

METHODSMale BALB C mice were infested by immersion of the tail and hind feet into the water with 50 or 100 cercariae of Cameroon strain S. intercalatum. Sixty days later the animals were killed, blood was collected and the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles were dissected and weighed. The plasma and testicular testosterone were evaluated with radioimmunoassay, the seminal vesicular fructose with colorimetric method, and the histology of testis and cauda epididymis observed under light microscope. The intensity of infestation was estimated in terms of S. intercalatum egg load in the liver.

RESULTSIn infested mice, the testicular weight did not change significantly while the epididymal and seminal vesicular weights were significantly lowered compared to the controls. Furthermore, the fructose levels in the seminal vesicle fluid were significantly (P<0.01) reduced in about 50% of infested mice. S. intercalatum infestation also decreased the plasma and testicular testosterone concentrations. Histological studies indicated that the spermatogenesis, the testicular interstitial tissue and the cauda epididymis were qualitatively normal. Parasite eggs were not found in these organs. The mean seminiferous tubular diameter did not show significant differences between the infested and control mice.

CONCLUSIONS. intercalatum infestation impairs testicular function.

Animals ; Epididymis ; pathology ; Fructose ; metabolism ; Liver ; parasitology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; Parasite Egg Count ; Schistosoma ; Schistosomiasis ; blood ; physiopathology ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testicular Diseases ; parasitology ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism

AIMAqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale and Pentadiplandra brazzeana were tested for their possible androgenic activity in male Wistar rats.

METHODSThe aqueous extracts of the two plants were gavaged separately to 2 groups of rats at a similar dose of 600 mg middot kg(-1) middot day(-1) for 8 days. At the end of the treatment, the animals were killed and the blood, testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were collected for biochemical analysis.

RESULTSThe aqueous extract of Z. officinale significantly increased in the relative weight of the testis, the serum testosterone level, testicular cholesterol level and epididymal a-glucosidase activity. The aqueous extract of P. brazzeana significantly increased the weights of the testis, seminal vesicles and prostate. It also significantly increased the serum and testicular testosterone level. The fructose, alpha-glucosidase and cholesterol levels in P. brazzeana-treated rats were increased by 28 %, 35 % and 114 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe aqueous extracts of both P. brazzeana and Z. officinale have an androgenic activity, which seems to be more potent with P. brazzeana than with Z. officinale.

Androgens ; Animals ; Brassicaceae ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fructose ; Ginger ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; Plant Stems ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism