The effect of Ricinus communisseeds extract on reproductive activity and blood values of male rabbits

Abstract EN

Ricinus communisL.

of Euphorbiaceae family is a widespread plant in tropical regions.

It is usedin traditional medicines as an anti- fertility agent in India and different parts of the world.

Theether soluble portion of the methanol extract of R.

communis var minor possesses antiimplantation, anti - conceptive and estrogenic activity in rats and mice when administeredsubcutaneously.

The study was conducted on 10 local breed male rabbits, 1 -2 years old, of 1 -2kg body weight.

The animals were divided into two groups, control non – treated group andtreated group in which animals were treated with single daily dose of 50 mg /kg b.

wt.

P.

O.

ofdecorticated and defatted castor seeds (DDCS) for 14 days.

28th day post treatment, animalswere anesthetized by diethyl ether, sacrificed, abdominal cavity was open.

The sexual organ(testes, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesical) weighed.

In addition to take a biopsy fromeach one for histopathological changes.

The study also included clinical and hematologicalparameters, in addition to sperm counts and the changes in sperm morphology.

Body weight, body temperature increased significantly in treated males.

While in non- treated group therewere no significant changes.

Respiratory rates and heart rate were none significantly changed intreated and non- treated males.

Bleeding time none significantly increased in treated males, butincreased significantly in none treated males.

Clotting times decreased none significantly intreated and non- treated males.

The blood parameters including, total erythrocytes count, hemoglobin concentration, PCV% , MCV, MCH, MCHC, total leucocyte and differential leucocytecounts were either increased or decreased none significantly in both groups.

The resultsrevealed that the effects of exposure to extract of ricin for 1 4 days on reproductive efficiency ofrabbits, exhibited Significant decrease in weights of testes, epididymis, tails, heads ofepididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate in treated males in comparison with those of nontreated males.

While the body of epididymis did not show a significant changes.

Significantdecrease in live sperm numbers, number of sperms in epididymal head, in addition to deformitiesin high numbers of sperm, including enlarged or small sperms.

breaks head, and its detachment, presence of two heads in one sperm, bifurcation of tail and its breaking, sperm coiling in samplesfrom treated males in comparison with those from non-treated males.

Histological changes werehyperplasia of lining epithelial cells and vacuolar degenerative changes, loss ofspermatogenesis, and spermatocytes necrosis in those from treated males.