Ocinum gratissimum Linn., Cadmium and testicular structure of the male guinea-pig

Abstract

The effects of the aqueous crude extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. leaf and cadmium (Cd) on basal serum phosphatase levels of the male guinea-pig were investigated. Furthermore, the effects of the  aqueous crude extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. leaf and Vitamin C on Cd-induced toxicity of the testicular/sperm cell structure of the male guinea-pig (GP) were also investigated. Ocimum gratissimum (0- 160mg) caused a significant inhibition/decrease (p less than 0.05) in basal serum phosphatase levels of the male guinea-pig. In contrast, cadmium (0.5-8mg/kg) caused a significant stimulation/increase (p less than 0.05) in basal serum phosphatase levels, which was positively correlated with a dose-dependent destruction of the testes and sperm cell histology/structure. Pretreatments with 5mg of O. gratissimum and 1.25mg/kg of vitamin C, with subsequent administration of cadmium, blocked/reversed the Cd-induced toxicities of the testes/sperm cell histology. These results may be explained in terms of the antioxidative properties and the post-receptor biochemical and molecular (transduction) events of O. gratissimumon Cd-induced responses.

Keywords: Histology; Sperm cell; Ocimum gratissimum leaf, testes