Morphology and Cyto-Architecture of the Testis and Assessment of Selected Biochemical Parameters Associated with Male Fertility Following the Consumption of Tom Brown Weaning Diet in Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Objectives/Background: Natural products are preferred over synthetic drug as fertility enhancers as they are cost effective. Infertility among men of reproductive age keeps rising. Synthetic drugs ameliorate the problem but leave adverse side effects as men advance in age, hence the need for alternative medicine. Tom brown weaning diet is a processed cereal-based powdery blend which is cooked into a semi-liquid food for children from 6 months and contains good nutrient levels. This work focused on the effects of Tom brown weaning diet on testes of Wistar rats. Method: Fifteen Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups namely: Control group, 50% tom brown group and 100% tom brown group. Control received only rat chow, 50% Tom brown group received tom brown diet and normal rat chows at 12 h cycle per time. This cycle was repeated till the end of the experiment. 50% Tom brown group received only tom brown diet throughout the experimental period. The testes were excised, measured, and processed for morphological and histological analysis. Results: Average testicular weight and relative weight in the 50% tom brown, 100% tom brown and control groups were not significant at alpha level of P ˂.05. This was also supported by the normal histological features seen in sections of the testes of rats in all groups as there were no shrinking and denser spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules. Hormonal analysis showed a non-significant difference in the level of FSH and LH at alpha levels of P˂0.05. However, testosterone level increased significantly in 100% group compared to 50% and the control group at P˂.05. Also, GC-MS study on the diet revealed 30 compounds in the diet. Conclusion: This study revealed that Tom brown diet has no detectable damaging effect(s) on the testes but could improve the cytoarchitecture and enhance fertility.