THE EFFECT OF FICUS CARICA ON LEAD ACETATE INDUCED CHANGES IN THE HEIGHT OF GERMINAL EPITHELIUM OF SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES OF ADULT RAT TESTES

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Ficus carica on lead acetate induced changes in the height of germinal epithelium of seminiferous tubules in testes of adult rats.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted for a period of 8 weeks at Departments of Anatomy and Pathology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi in collaboration with National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad Pakistan.

Material and Methods: Thirty healthy adult male Sprague-dawley rats were selected by simple random sampling and divided into three groups. Each group consisted of 10 animals. Group A served as control. Group B was given lead acetate 30 mg/kg body weight/day. Group C received Ficus carica 80 mg/kg bodyweight/day in addition to lead acetate 30 mg/kg bodyweight/ day. The dose was administered once a day for a period of 8 weeks. Twenty-four hours after administration of last dose, the animals were sacrificed and testes were removed. Testicular tissue was processed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Height of germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules was measured. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results were considered significant at p-value<0.05.

Results: In experimental group B, significant decrease in height of germinal epithelium was observed as compared to the control group of the germinal epithelium. In experimental group C, the height increased as compared to experimental group B.

Conclusion: Our study proposes that the laboratory induced deleterious effects of lead acetate in the testes of adult rats may be limited by administering concomitant supplement of Ficus carica in adult rats.