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ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects aqueous extract of Cissus pulpolnae on the testes of rats treated with lead acetate. Twenty (20) male Wistar rats were allowed to acclimatize for two weeks under standard laboratory conditions (temperature 24-28°C and 12 hour light-dark cycle) before commencement of the experiment. The rats in each group were allowed access to standard rat chow and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. The rats were randomly assigned into a control group and three treatment groups (5) rats each. The rats in Group A served as control and received feed and water ad libitum only. The treatment groups B received intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg body weight of lead acetate only; group C received 500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Cissus populneaonly; group D received 500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Cissus populnea and 50 mg/kg body weight of lead acetate. The experimental period lasted for 14 days. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia. Blood samples were collected, in plain bottles, from the Inferior vena cava of each rat for biochemical assay. The testes was excised and fixed in 10% buffered formalsaline for routine histological processing. The data generated were subjected to statistical analysis. Significant difference in the means of all parameters was determined using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA; 95% confidence interval). The result obtained showed that lead acetate induced varied histological damage to the testes ranging from seminiferous tubule lumen devoid of spermatozoa, disrupted sematogenic series in the seminiferous epithelium to accumulation of fluid within the interstitial space. These pathologies were not found in the groupo treated with both lead acetate and the extract.
