Assessment of mating profile of male Wistar rats administered single and pooled extracts of Phoenix dactylifera and Cocos nucifera

Phoenix dactylifera (date) and Cocos nucifera (coconut) are edible and medicinal crops consumed in Africa to stimulate male sexual performances. Incidence of sexual incompetence, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and reduced libido are on the rise. Consequently, the effect of a pooled extract on mating profiles to determine the sexual performance efficiency in male Wistar rats was investigated. Fifty-two first filial (FI) generation in-bred healthy male Wistar rats were randomly selected and grouped into A to M (n=4) per cage. Group (A) received distilled water and served as the control, while group B, C, D and E received 250, 500, 750 and 1,000mg/kg of the date extract. Graded doses as described earlier were also administered to Group F, G, H and I (coconut milk) and J, K, l and M (mix extract) as oral single daily doses for 60 days. Rats adapted to the sanitized animal room condition for 14 days and adequately provided pelletized rat feed and water ad libitum. The crops were purchased from the open market and processed using maceration apparatus and spray drying process for the date and coconut extract extractions, and were pooled in equal proportion. Mating profiles were assessed by monitoring the activities of each rat in a rectangular Plexiglas surveillance chamber (52 x 45 x 38 cm) on 20th, 40th and 60th days of the treatments by observing in a sound-attenuated room after introducing an equivalent number of female rats (n=52). The mating parameters either decreased or increased in a dose-dependent manner; without traces of weakness or reduced penile reflexes and a higher significance in the combination (P ≤ 0.025) than date (P ≤ 0.045) and coconut (P ≥ 0.05) extracts. We conclude that P. dactylifera and C. nucifera mix has lasting potentials on mating profile in male Wistar rats.Keywords: Cocos nucifera, Mating profile, Phoenix dactylifera, Sexual arousal, Libido, Sex enhance

Histopathological changes associated with exposure of some viscerals and testicular tissues to bisephenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

Purpose: To evaluate the pathological effect associated with the exposure of viscerals and testicular tissues of albino rats to BPA and DEHP. Methods: A total of sixty adult male Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250 g were divided into four (4) groups of 15 rats per cage in a sanitized environment. Group I animals received normal rodent pellet and water and served as untreated group. Thereafter, the rats in the second group (II) were administered 5 mg/kg per day of BPA mixed with rodent pellet orally; group III received 0.5 mg/kg daily dose of DEHP mixed with rodent pellet; while group IV received orally mixture of 0.5 mg/kg of BPA and 0.5 mg/kg DEHP + pelleted rodent feed. The rats were fed and water provided regularly for 30 days; finally, the animals were weighed and sacrificed by cranial dislocation. Result: BPA and DEHP resulted in significant (p < 0.05) weight losses, inflammation and fatty deposits in the liver, degenerated bowman capsule and glomeruli of the kidneys, lung oedema, and deteriorated leydig cells in testes. Conclusion: The results suggest that BPA and DEHP cause significant weight loss and are injurious to the cellular make-up of rat tissues, which may be the same in higher animals