Influence of Long-term Ingestion of Garcinia Kola Seed Diet on Sperm Count, Sperm Motility, and Fertility in the Wistar Rat

Abstract

The influence of long-term ingestion of Garcinia kola seed on the sperm count, sperm motility, and fertility was investigated in the rat. Twenty adult Wistar rats initially weighing between 150 and 160 g were randomly divided into 2 groups (A and B) of 10 rats each. Group A animals served as control and were fed normal rat feed. Group B rats were fed Garcinia kola seed diet, obtained by mixing 20g of Garcinia kola seed powder and 80g of rat feed (20% w/w). The animals were allowed their respective diets and tap water ad libitum for 8 weeks. The results obtained revealed that there was a significant difference (p< 0.05) between the sperm count (16.42 × 10⁶ ± 5.25 × 10⁶/ml) and sperm motility(8.72 ± 2.33%) of the treatment group (Group B) and the respective values of the control, sperm count (89.38 × 10⁶ ±  3.68 × 10⁶/ml) and sperm motility (75.56  ±  1.23%). The findings suggest that long- term ingestion of Garcinia kola seed diet may cause a significant reduction in sperm count, sperm motility, and ultimately infertility in the male wistar rat.

Keywords: Fertility; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Garcinia kola; Wistar rat.