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ABSTRACT
Fertility is the quality of being able to produce offspring through reproduction following the onset of sexual maturity.Azanzagarckeana known as “Gorontula” (Tula Kola nut), it is a deciduous shrub in Gombe State and Morojwa in Botswana, it is a valuable edible indigenous fruit widely distributed in Tula, Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State. The plant extract have been reported to be richly high in saponins, Phenol, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of Azanzagarckeana(gorontula) on the uterus of adult female Wistar rats. Thirty adult female Wistar rats were used for this study. They were randomized into five (5) groups of six (6) rats each. Group A served as control. Group B were allowed to mate and litter. Group C were administered 50mg/kg body weight of Azanzagarckeanaextract via oral route daily and were allowed to mate and sacrificed after day 19. Group D were administered 50mg/kg body weight of Azanzagarckeanaextract via oral route daily and were allowed to mate and litter, Group E were administered 50mg/kg body weight of Azanzagarckeanaextract via oral route daily and were unmated. This experiment spanned for a period of 30 days before sacrifice, except for Group B, after which series of tests such as: statistical analysis, oxidative stress analysis were conducted, weighed and fixed for histopathological analysis. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the IBM SPSS statistics software (Statistical Package for Social Science) (Version 25) and relevant statistical values were obtained. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out, and data were presented as mean ± SEM. LSD post-hoc test was used. Values of P<0.05 were considered significant. The statistical values obtained were converted into graphical representations in the form of bar charts. The result of study showed that there was significant increase compared to control (P<0.05) as regards body weight. There was no significant different (P>0.05) compared to control on organ weight. The Gorontula treated group had more numbers of litters compared to the Gorontula untreated group. The findings of this study indicates that A. garckeana causes significant increase (P<0.05) in the body weight of rats in all groups, except for rats treated with Gorontula and mated which showed decrease in body weight when compared to the control group. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in organ weight across the groups. There was no significant difference in the gonadosomatic index (P>0.05) across the group.The result from this study showed that there was significant number of implant between the Gorontula treated and mated group when compared to Gorontula untreated group. There was no significant number (P>0.05) of resorption between the Gorontula fed and mated group when compared to the Gorontula untreated and mated group. The findings from this study showed that the Gorontula treated group had significant increase (P<0.05) in the numbers of litters when compared to the Gorontula untreated group. The findings from this study showed that there were remarkable changes in the uterus of the Gorontula fed and mated group sacrificed on day 19 when compared to that of the control (Gorontula unfed and unmated group).The findings from this study showed that there were remarkable changes in the uterus of the Gorontula fed and unmated group when compared to that of control. The findings from this study showed that there were remarkable changes in the uterus of Gorontula fed and mated group sacrificed on day 19 such as; stromal oedema when compared to that of Gorontula fed and unmated group which was also seen to be having an active stroma congestion in comparison with Gorontula fed mated group sacrificed on day 19. The findings from this study showed that there were no remarkable changes in the ovary of Gorontula fed and unmated group when compared to control. The findings from this study showed that there were significant increases (P<0.05) of MDA in all the Groups, when compared to the control group. There were also no significant differences (P>0.05) in the level of SOD and CAT across the groups. In conclusion, the observations on the uterus can be adduced to the effect of free radicals while it is notable that free radical increase would have accounted for the deleterious effect on the uterus. It is recommended that more detailed studies evaluating the effect of Gorontula on these organs and on fertility in the female should be carried out.
