Effect of Persea americana leave extract (PALE) on male reproduction
Authors: Gbadegoye Joy , Oyeyemi Matthew , Adejumobi Olumuyiwa , Ajani Samuel 
Published: May 2023

Infertility affects about 30 million men globally and one of the leading causes of male infertility is drug use or misuse. Various plant parts of Persea americana, commonly known as avocado, have been used as food and for managing pain, hyperglycemia, and high blood pressure among others. This research was conducted to determine the potential benefits and/or detriments of Persea americana leaves on the reproductive indices through the spermatogenic cycle of male Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats were orally given Persea americana leave extract (PALE) for 7 weeks at 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg. After each week of PALE administration, the sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm livability, testicular and epididymal histomorphology, and testosterone assay was conducted on rats from each group. Fertility test and conception rate as also determined by introducing rats from the individual group each week to female Wistar rats. Ultrasound was done on the female rats and litter size was recorded after parturition. Reproductive parameters were also evaluated in rats 2 weeks after the withdrawal of the extract and finds were recorded. Rats in the control group were given water and rats chow only. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The differences between the mean were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). P value < 0.05Significant differences were observed in the testis size of the treated groups when compared to the control which probably reflects acute and chronic inflammatory responses/effects. The significant changes in the epididymal luminal diameter reiterated Indication of Inflammation. A transient increase was observed in the testicular tubular diameter (TTD) of the treated groups after week 5. Histology of the testes also showed loss of seminiferous tubules.There was a significant dose-dependent decrease in the sperm count for the first four weeks with week 1 showing 69.0±5.65a, 91.5±6.36a, b, 105.0±9.89b (✕106spm/ml) for groups A(100mg/kg) groups B(200mg/kg) and control group respectively, and 51.5±6.36a, 73.5±6.36b, 96.0±7.07c (✕106spm/ml was observed after the 4th week of PALE administration.No significant difference was observed in the weight of the testis and epididymis, the FSH and testosterone levels, and the litter size between the treated and control groups.PALE was probably inducing the death of matured sperm cells, causing inflammation of the testis and epididymis, and the loss of seminiferous tubules. This effect is perhaps not through the GnRH-gonadal axis since FSH, and Testosterone levels were unaffected by PALE. PALE has properties that have toxic effects on male reproductive indices, causing acute and chronic inflammation of the testis, epididymis and oligospermia and should be used with caution in the reproductively active male population.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.