Effect of Aqueous Allium sativum Bulb Extract on Lead Acetate -Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility is one of the global public health concerns as it affects 15% of couples of reproductive ages. It was observed that lead exposure has been considered to adversely affect spermatogenesis and reduced fertility with the accumulation in the organ by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the testes. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of aqueous Allium sativum bulb extract on lead induced testicular toxicity in male wistar rat. Methodology: Male wistar rats were divided into 6 groups with six rats each, the normal control, the positive group received lead acetate alone 15 mg/kg/day via intraperitoneally route daily for ten consecutive days while treatment groups were pretreated with lead-acetate as the positive control after which they received graded doses of the extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day via oral route for 40 days. Results: The results demonstrated that Allium sativum extract treatment induced a negative energy balance, as evidenced by significant reduction in body weight similar to the positive control group. Lead acetate administration induced significant deletions alterations in the serum Testosterone, body weight, testis weight and sperm characteristics (counts, motility and viability) of exposed rats (p<0.05). These were significantly reversed in the aqueous Allium sativum bulb extract-treated groups (p<0.05). Also, they were marked improvement in the observed lead acetate induced atrophy of the interstitial Leydig cells and reduction in intraluminal spermatids observed was significantly reversed in the representative photomicrographs, following administration of the extract. Conclusion: The administrative of aqueous Allium sativum bulb extract exhibits beneficial effects on metabolic health and shows promise as a protective agent against lead-acetate induced toxicity.