The Ameliorating Capabilities of Croton Zambesicus Leaf Extract on the Testis of Rats Exposed to Pyrethroid-Based Insecticide

The pyrethroid pesticides are swiftly replacing other type of insecticides due to a moderately lower toxicity for mammals. Nevertheless, due to excessive use they have now become an environmental nuisance. We sort to evaluate the attenuating effect of aqueous extract of Croton zambesicus (AECZ) on testicular derangement induced by pyrethroid-based insecticide in the rat testis. Thirty five male Wistar rats (10 to 12 weeks old) weighing 230-250 g were where divided into four groups of seven rats each. Group A severed as the control, Group B rats were exposed to pyrethroid-based mosquito coil, Group C, D and E rats were exposed to pyrethroid-based mosquito coil and subsequently treated with 200, 250 and 300 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Croton zambesicus. The animals were sacrificed after 10 weeks and results obtained showed a significant (P<0.001) decrease in testicular weight, reduction of basal seminiferous epithelial cells, marked testicular atrophy, germinal aplasia and hypospermatozoa formation in the group exposed to pyrethroid-based coil. There was also a significant decrease in testicular activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, gluthathione peroxidase and a significant (p<0.001) increase in level of malondialdehye. Also shown in our study is a decrease in the seminiferous tubule diameter and cross sectional area and a significant (p < 0.001), decrease in the sperm count and motility but an increase in total abnormal sperm morphology when compared to the values of obtained from control. All these parameters were however ameliorated in a dose dependent matter in the groups that were post-treated with aqueous extract of Croton zambesicus, it was concluded that aqueous leaf extract of Croton zambesicus protect the testis from pyrethroid-based insecticide-induced derangement.

Key Words: Testes, Mosquito coil, Allethrin, Infertility, Croton zambesicus