Reproductive Analysis of Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaf extract against Cadmium Induced Testicular Damage

The purpose of this study is to explore if treatment with aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum was effective in minimising cadmium induced testicular damage on the testes of male wistar rats. Twenty (20) mature male wistar rats was collected from Animal House of the Faculty of Basic medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Four subgroups, each consisting of four rats, were created from them. Group I was the control group and was given unlimited access to food and water for a period of two weeks. Group II was given a two-week treatmet of B. pinnatum together with CdcT + lovv. Group III had B. pinnatum at a medium dosage together with Cdcl for a fortnight. For two weeks, group IV received a high dosage of B. pinnatum along with Cdcl. Upon completion of the final dosage, the rats were sedated, and a blood sample was taken from each one via ocular puncture using a micro capillary tube for biochemical analysis and an epididymis dissection for semen analysis. All particulate parameters were analysed according to standard protocols. The results indicated a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the rats’ final body weights in groups B and D in comparison to the control group. When the test groups’ testicular weight was compared to the control group, it dropped considerably (p<0.05). Comparing all test groups to control, there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in both FSH and testosterone. When comparing the test groups to the control, there was a substantial (p<0.05) decrease in the motility of active sperm, but there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the motility of sluggish and non-motile sperm. This study shown that Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract cannot reverse the reproductive harm caused by cadmium in rats. Keywords: Testes, Cadmium, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Reproductive Analysis, Cadmium and Testicular Damage