The Effect of Aqueous Leave Extract of Nicotiana Tabacum (Tobacco) On Some Reproductive Parameters and Micro-Anatomical Architecture Of The Testis In Male Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

The tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) has been in used for several years irrespective of the location of human races. Tobacco is used in different ways but cigarettes constitute the largest share of manufactured tobacco products in the world, accounting for 96% of total sales. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Nicotiana tabacum leaves on some reproductive parameters. 20 male young wistar rats weighing between 160 to 190g were used for the study. The extract was administered orogastrically in doses of 30, 20 and 10mg/kg body weight per day in 0.5ml of distilled water for 21 days and the control group was given equal volume of distilled water as well. The results showed that at the dose of 20 and 30mg/kg the extract decreased significantly the percentage motility (P<0.01) and (P<0.001) to 21.8±1.0 and 15.6±0.8 respectively, while the sperm concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01) to 55.7x 10⁶±2038480 at the dose of 30mg/kg. The testicular histology showed decrease spermatogonic cells at doses of 20mg/kg and 30mg/kg respectively. It is concluded that nicotine could adversely affect fertility by sperm count, motility and testicular spermatogenesis in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Keywords Nicotiana tabacum, reproductive parameters, testicular histology