Effect of fluted pumpkin leaf extract on testicular morphometry and testicular homogenate glucose concentration on rabbit bucks

Abstract

A study involving 20 grower rabbit bucks which lasted a period of 12 weeks was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate the testicular morphometry and testicular homogenate glucose concentration of rabbit bucks fed Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) Leaf Extract (FPLE). The rabbit bucks were allotted to 4 Treatments containing 0ml of FPLE/litre of drinking water (Treatment 1), 50ml of FPLE/litre of drinking water (Treatment 2), 100ml of FPLE/litre of drinking water (Treatment 3) and 150ml of FPLE/litre of drinking water (Treatment 4). Each treatment was replicated 5 times. The same concentrate diet was fed to the rabbits in all the treatment groups. At the end of the feeding trial, 3 rabbits per Treatment were slaughtered and the reproductive organs of each animal were removed intact and completely and the testes and epididymides were separated. Each epididymis was further dissected into caput (head), corpus (body) and cauda (tail) and each testis, epididymal section and ductus deference were then weighed individually using a sensitive scale. Testicular homogenate glucose concentration (THGC) was evaluated using the homogenate method. Data derived from the study was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for completely randomized design. The result of the study showed that, Testicular Morphometry of the Rabbit Bucks was significantly (P<0.05) different for the left caput and the right ductus among the treatment groups. Testicular homogenate glucose concentration was similar (P>0.05) among Treatment groups and increased with increasing levels of FPLE. The study concluded that, FPLE at any level (from 50ml/litre of water) is detrimental to testicular growth.