Introduction: Aluminium (Al) is a trivalent cation that does not undergo redox changes. Extensive experimental shreds of evidence demonstrate in-vitro and in-vivo, that high Al concentrations cause oxidative stress; an imbalance between free radical generation and the antioxidant defense system. Oxidative stress induced by Aluminium is one of the major contributing factors to male reproductive disorders. Psidium guajava, the guava tree is widely distributed as a native plant in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, with its leaves being deployed in folk medicine to manage several diseased conditions such as; diarrhoea, stomach ache, and hepatic problems. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an aqueous extract of Pisidium guajava on Aluminium (AlCl3) induced testicular damage.
Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into six (6) groups of five (5) animals each and used for this study. Group A was orally administered with 0.5 ml of normal saline from the 1st to the 14th day. Group B got 0.5 ml of 100mg/kg body weight of aluminium chloride (AlCl3) only, from the 1st to 14th day. Group C got 0.5 mls of 250mg/kg body weight of Psidium gaujava leaf extract from the 1st to 14th day, Group D got 0.5 mls of 500 mg/kg body weight of Psidium guajava from the 1st to 14th day. Group E got 0.5 mls of 100mg/kg body weight of aluminum chloride from the 1st to 14th day, and 0.5 mls of 250 mg/kg body weight of Psidium guajava leaf extract from the 15th to 28th day. Group F got 0.5mls of 100 mg/kg body weight of aluminum chloride from the 1st to the 14th day, and 0.5mls of 500 mg/kg body weight of Psidium guajava leaf extract from the 15th to the 28th day. Administration was via the oral gavage.
Results: Oral administration of aluminum chloride adversely compromised the testicular histomorphology of Wistar rats, causing testicular atrophy associated with degeneration of germ cells within the seminiferous tubules, and enlarged lumen with fewer spermatids compared with the non-treated animals.
Conclusion: Guava leaf extract reversed the damage caused by aluminum chloride, restoring the distorted seminiferous tubules and presenting the lumen with densely packed primary spermatocytes.
Key words: Aluminium Chloride, Pisidium guajava, Testes, Histomorphology, Oxidative Stress_
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