Assessment of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) effects on the reproductive system, liver, pancreas and kidney of male rats

Nitrate (NO3) toxicity is a serious global issue that results in impairment of physiological systems of our body. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different concentration of NaNO3 (10, 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw) on the male reproductive system, liver, kidney and pancreas. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of five animals each (n = 5). The first group served as controls. The second, third, fourth and fifth groups of rat were orally intubated with 10, 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw of NaNO3 for 52 days. After the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed and NO3 induced alterations on selected organs were assessed. There was a dose dependent decrease in sperm motility, serum concentration of testosterone, body weight and organ weight, and increase in abnormal sperm morphology in the NaNO3 treated groups compared with the controls. Further, histological analysis confirmed that NO3 induced toxicity. Shrunken seminiferous tubules and loss of spermatids in testes, shrinkage of acinar cells of the pancreas, sinusoidal congestion and necrosis in the liver, atrophy of glomeruli and congestion of renal tubules of the kidney were the histological alterations observed in rats treated with100 and 500 mg/kg NaNO3. However, 100% mortality was observed in rats treated with 1000 mg/kg NaNO3. The present study clearly demonstrated the toxic effects of NaNO3 on both the reproductive system and other organs of the body. The study might inform human studies; where in the chances of male infertility may be more a problem for individuals in areas with NO3-rich ground water

Reversible antifertility effect of Cyamposis psoralioides in male swiss albino mice

Present study was undertaken to evaluate the reversible antifertility effect of Cyamposis psoralioides (Guar gum) pod on male Swiss albino mice. The mice were orally administered the ethanol crude extract (200mg/Kg body weight and 400mg/Kg body weight) for 40 days. Effect of the treatment on reproductive organs and fertility was investigated and the testosterone level was determined by RIA. The results revealed that the low dose of 200mg/Kg body weight treatment caused 50% reduction in the fertility of male mice, whereas in high dose 400mg/Kg body weight caused 100% reduction in the fertility of male mice. The treatment caused reduction in the number of spermatozoa in cauda epididymis (P<0.001, P<0.001). The weight of reproductive organs viz., testis (P<0.001, P<0.001), epididymis (P<0.01, P<0.01), seminal vesicle (P<0.05, P<0.001), vas deferens (P<0.001) and ventral prostate (P<0.001, P<0.001) decreased significantly. Serum testosterone level reduced significantly (P<0.001, P<0.001) when compared to the control group. Histometry showed reduction in the diameter of seminiferous tubules (P<0.001, P<0.001) and diameter of the Leydig cells (P<0.001, P<0.001). Biochemical parameters of testis like total protein (P<0.05, P<0.05), Cholesterol (P<0.05, P<0.05), ascorbic acid (P<0.01, P<0.05) and glycogen (P<0.01, P<0.001) showed statistical significant differences when compared to the control group. Both the groups of animals were maintained for 30 days without any treatment to check the reversibility. All the animals after the recovery period showed normal fertility rate. From this we can conclude that guar gum can be used as a potent antifertility agent