Authors : K.O. Oyedeji, A.F. Bolarinwa and M.A. Hamzat
Abstract: Palm wine is the sap of a monocarpic crop (Rafia rafia) which is widely grown along the coast of West and Central Africa. Several studies have been reported on the effects of palm wine on fetal cerebral cortex but due to scanty information on its effects on androgenical studies, reproduction. These studies were designed to investigate the effects of palm wine on testosterone levels and reproductive parameters in Wistar albino rats. Fresh 50% diluted palm wine was administered orally for 30 days for reproductive studies at the dose of 10 mL kg-1 bw. Distilled water (0.5 mL) served as control. Testosterone level was assayed using ELISA, semen analysis were done microscopically. Histological analysis of the testis was also done. Data were analysed using students’ t-test at p<0.05. Treatment of rats with palm wine (10 mL kg-1 bw) caused no significant (p>0.05) increase in body weights of treated rats relative to control. Palm wine (10 mL kg-1 bw) caused significant decrease in testosterone level (0.12±0.02 ng mL-1; relative to control 1.38±0.52 ng mL-1). Palm wine (10 mL kg-1 bw) caused significant decrease in sperm counts, motility and viability but no significant change in morphology. There were interstistial congestion and odema of the testes.
K.O. Oyedeji, A.F. Bolarinwa and M.A. Hamzat, 2012. Effect of Palm Wine on Reproductive Functions in Male Albino Rats. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 7: 340-344.