Influence Of Graded Dose Of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract Administered Orally On Testicular Pathology, Gonadal And Extra Gonadal Sperm Reserves Of Wistar Rats Experimentally Infected With Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei

BACKGROUND: The seeds of Moringa oleifera are known to have high content of protein and vitamins. The seeds are excellent sources of antioxidants. The seeds were extracted using aqueous extraction method. Thereafter acute toxicity test was carried out.OBJECTIVES: The research was designed to examine the influence of graded dose of aqueous seed extract of Moringa oleifera on testicular pathology, gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves of Wistar rat experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into five groups (A, B, C, D and E) group E was control. Group A to D were inoculated with 1× 106 virulent T. brucei brucei intra-peritoneal, the rats were kept for one week post infection to exhibit clinical signs prior to commencement of the treatment with the extract. The rats were treated daily at 10:00 AM for five weeks with 75 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract for group A, B, C and D respectively. While group E was control received 0.5 ml/kg of water. Blood samples were collected every Monday between 10:00-11:00 AM for hematological indices. At the end of six weeks of the experiment all the rats were humanely sacrificed, gonadal and extra gonadal sperm reserves were harvested and examined and processed for histopathology. RESULTS: Gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves (sperm× 106) of the rats (group A to E) post treatment revealed significant increased 213±2.3a; 221±3.1; 250±1.7c; 259±2.6d; 295±2.5e and 115±1.1; 160±2.1; 153±0.0; 167±1.7; 120±1.2 respectively, compared to control group at p <0.05 level. Sperm concentration of the right epididymis (sperm× 106) 60.0±0.6a; 90.2±1.1b; 96.5±0.0c; 98.7±0.9d; 69.4±0.6e were significantly higher compared to the left epididymis 5.0±0.5; 69.8±1.1; 56.5±0.0; 68.3±0.8; 50.6±0.6. The blood were evaluated for group A to E and the PCV (%) and WBC (×103/μL) were progressively in group A, B and C compared to group E post infection. Infection with T. brucei at weeks 2 and 3 shows poor semen characteristics, thereafter the semen quality has improved. CONCLUSIONS: Moringa oleifera aqueous seeds extract has significantly reduced the impact of trypanosomosis and improved semen quality of the experimental rats.