Aim: To evaluate the effect of aqueous Carica papaya seed extract on microenvironment of cauda epididymis.Methods: Adult male albino rats were intrauscularly administered with 0 (control) or 0.5 mg papaya seed ex tract/kg body weight for 7 days. Cauda epididymal tubular content was collected by micropuncture technique; epididy real luminal fluid and sperm pellets were separately analyzed. Results: The results revealed that the extract treat ment caused significant reduction, as compared with control, in total protein and sialic acid contents in both epididymal fluid and sperm pellet. As compared with control, significantly lowered acid phosphatase activity was recorded in spermpellet but was higher in epididymal fluid after the treatment. The extract treatment also caused significant reduction in level of inorganic phosphorus in the ePididymal fluid. Conclusion: It is concluded that the aqueous papaya seed ex tract alters cauda epididymal microenvironment.

Aim: To assess the effect of aflatoxin on biochemical changes in the testis of mice and the possibility of amelioration by vitamin E treatment. Methods: Adult male albino mice were orally administered with 25 or 50 tg of aflatoxin/animal/day (750 or 1500 μg/kg body weight) for 45 days. The testis was isolated and processed for biochemical analysis. Results: There was a significant, dose-dependent reduction in DNA, RNA, protein, sialic acid contents and the activities of succinic dehydrogenase, adenosine triphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the testis of aflatoxintreated mice as compared to the vehicle control. However, the acid phosphatase activity was significantly increased in the aflatoxin-treated mice. Vitamin E (2 mg/animal/day) treatment significantly ameliorated the aflatoxin-induced changes, except the acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in the high dose group. Conclusion: Vitamin E treatment ameliorates the aflatoxin-induced changes in the testis of mice.