Ethnopharmacological relevance: Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn., Cucurbitaceae (buchinha-do-norte), aqueous extract (EBN) is popularly used to relieve symptoms of sinusitis and as abortive.
Aim of the study: As neurotoxicity and toxicity studies on the male reproductive system are scarce, the present study aimed at quantitatively addressing the question.
Materials and methods: Male adult rats were observed in the open field (OF) and in the light-dark box test (LDB) to evaluate locomotion and anxiety. Macroscopical and microscopical alterations on the rats' testes were also studied. The rats were divided into two groups, control (GC) and experimental (GE). GE received 1.0 mg/kg per day of EBN, orally, for five consecutive days, whereas GC received water. On the 6th day, each animal was evaluated in OF and in LDB for 3 min in each apparatus. After that, the left testicles were studied.
Results: In the OF, GE showed decreased locomotion, increased immobility time and decreased grooming and remained for less time in the center of the apparatus. In LDB, GE showed significant difficulty in moving into the light side of the device and remained longer in the dark side, exhibiting less displacement on both sides and less transitions between sides. Testicle weights, relative weights, testicular volume, cranial-caudal and lateral-lateral axes presented an increase in relation to the GC. Microscopic changes were observed in parenchyma, lumen and diameter of seminiferous tubules. Leydig cell numbers were decreased in GE.
Conclusions: The administration of EBN induced anxiety-like behavior, impaired locomotion and altered the testes morphology of rats.
Keywords: Cognitive performance; Ear, nose and oropharynx; Fertility, depression; Light-dark box; Open field; Sinusitis; Traditional medicine Meso- and Southern America; buchinha-do-norte.
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