Inhibition of Fertility and Functional Alteration in the Genital Organs of Male Swiss Albino Mouse After Administration of Calotropis procera Flower Extract

Abstract

Intramuscular administration of aqueous and ethanolic flower extracts of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. at doses of 10.0 or 5.0 mg/mouse/alternate day for a period of 20 days to sexually mature male albino mice induced functional sterility without loss of libido and sexual behaviour as evidenced by total inhibition of nidation in cycling parous female mice mated with the substance-treated males. The antifertility effect can be conjecturally attributed to the highly reduced sperm concentration and altered biochemistry of the genital organs. Glycogen, cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase content of the examined reproductive tissues exhibited a statistically significant increase in comparison to the control values, while sialic acid and acid phosphatase values were depleted. Also, the net weight of the testes and sex accessories were significantly reduced. Histologic profiles of the testes revealed extensive deleterious changes in the germinal tubules which contained mainly necrotic and degenerating germ cells. Further, the epididymal lumina appeared devoid of spermatozoa and exhibited mainly cell debris. The present results indicate that C. procera flower has a potent antispermatogenic activity in the albino mouse, but at the doses and experimental regimen employed, had no apparent effect on sexual behaviour or libido.