Histomophological Effect of Chronic Oral Consumption of Ethanolic Extract of Picralima Nitida (Akuamma) Seed on the Caudal Epidydimis of Adult Wistar Rats

Histomorphological effect of chronic consumption of ethanolic extract of Picralima nitida seed on the caudal Epididymis of adult albino wistar male rats was investigated using 20 male albino wistar rats; they were distributed into 5 rats in each group. Group 1 was the control group while groups 2 to group 4 were the experimental groups. Group 1 was given distilled water and normal rat feed, Group 2 was given 250mg/kg serving as low dose, group 3 was given 350mg/kg as middle dose and group 4 was given 450mg/kg as High dose of Picralima nitida seeds extract orally for 21 days. At the end of administration, the rats were sacrificed and Caudal Epidydidmis from all the groups were carefully dissected out, fixed immediately in Bouin’s fluid and sent to Laboratory for histopathological analysis. 2-3mm in thickness were section out, and re-fixed in neutral buffered formalin solution, processed to paraffin sections and cut at 5micron using Rotary microtome and evaluated under digital microscope. Result of histopathology showed normal cellular architecture of seminiferous tubules containing distinct Basal and Principal  cell, distinct area of interstitium, the  tubules were lined with Pseudo-stratified squamous epithelial cell with goblet cells enclosed in it are the spermatocytes stocked in the seminal fluid, there is no evidence of cellular abnormality seen. While in group 2 and 3 with Low and middle dose, there was no obvious cellular abnormality, though there is slight area of interstitial and tubular constriction as compared to control group and in group 4 (High dose), revealed cellular abnormality with evidence of cellular proliferation, abnormalities in the semniferous tubules, interstitium and epithelial lining as compared to control group. In conclusion, Picralima nitida seeds does not pose cellular abnormality at low dose level when it is consumed with cautions, however prolong intake at high concentration has deleterious and adverse effect on cytoarchitecture of caudal epidydimis of male Adult wistar rats. Keywords: Picralima nitida, Histopathology, wistar rat, and Caudal Epidydimis