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Organ Weight and Histomorphological Changes in Buck Rabbits Fed Aspilia africana (African Marigold) Leaves Supplemented With Zinc Gluconate
Abstract
This work was carried out to evaluate organ weight and histological changes in 24 buck rabbits subjected to Aspilia africana leaves supplemented with zinc gluconate. The bucks were divided into four equal groups. Each treatment was replicated three times in a completely randomized design. Treatment group one (T1) was fed concentrate plus conventional forages with 0.0mg zinc gluconate. Treatments 2, 3 and 4 were fed concentrate with 0.0mg zinc gluconate, 100mg zinc gluconate and 150mg zinc gluconate, respectively. Aspilia africana with zinc gluconate supplementation significantly increased the relative weights of the liver, lungs, heart and gastrointestinal tracts. There was no pathological change in the kidneys of bucks fed A. africana with or without supplementation compared to those fed conventional forages. Mature spermatid density was reduced in the testes of bucks fed A. africana without zinc gluconate. The density of spermatids per tubule, however, increased with the two levels of zinc gluconate. Severe portal inflammation with interface necrosis was observed in bucks fed 0.0mg zinc gluconate and 100mg zinc gluconate, respectively. The inflammation became mild with 150mg zinc gluconate without necrosis. Fresh leaves of Aspilia africana without zinc supplementation reduced the efficiency of spermatogenesis by lowering spermatid density. It also caused severe portal inflammation. Zinc gluconate supplementation at both levels increased the spermatid density per tubule; and at 150mg ameliorated the inflammation and eliminated necrosis of the liver cells.
