Histomorphological Changes in the Ovary and Uterine Horn of Female Wistar Rats Following 28-Day Oral Administration of Acacia nilotica Pod Extract

Acacia nilotica pods are extensively used in Northern Nigeria for treating reproductive disorders, yet their morphological effects on female reproductive organs remain poorly characterized. This study evaluated dose-dependent histological changes in ovarian and uterine tissues following repeated oral administration. Fifty adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=10): control (normal saline), three treatment groups (125, 250, 500 mg/kg for 28 days), and one recovery group (500 mg/kg for 28 days followed by 14-day withdrawal). Ovaries and uterine horns were examined histologically using hematoxylin-eosin staining with semi-quantitative follicular assessment. Ovarian and uterine horn weights remained unchanged across groups (p>0.05), except for modest uterine horn index elevation at 250 and 500 mg/kg (p

Key Words: Follicular atresia, ovarian histology, medicinal plant toxicity, uterine morphology