Effects of Cissus populnea and Panax ginseng on Flutamide-Induced Testicular Defect in Pre-Pubertal Male Rats

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the effects of Cissus populnea and Panax ginseng on flutamide-induced testicular toxicities in pre-pubertal rats.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos – Nigeria, between May and December 2010.
Methodology: 20 male immature (25 days old) Wistar rats were used. They were randomly divided into 4 groups; 1 control and 3 treatment groups. Group A served as control, group B was administered flutamide and Cissus populnea, group C was administered flutamide and Panax ginseng and group D was administered flutamide alone. Body weight and testicular weights were measured. Hormonal assay for testosterone, FSH and LH were done using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Histopathology of the testis was also investigated.
Result: There were no statistically significant differences in serum testosterone levels in all three treatment groups when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase in the serum LH level in group D when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Serum FSH level in group B showed a significant increase when compared with the control group (p<0.05). The histological evidences of testis in group D showed a reduction in lining cells of the seminiferous tubules; however, in the other three treatment groups they were similar to the control group.
Conclusion: The results suggest that Cissus populnea and Panax ginseng ameliorates the adverse effects of flutamide on the testis.