Chronic alcohol consumption has been implicated in male infertility, whereas Carica papaya (CP) ripe fruit possesses antioxidant activity. This study investigated histomorphological and hormonal effects of ripened CP in alcohol experimental model. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into six groups of five animals each as follows; groups 1, 2 and 3 received distilled water 2 ml, 40% ethanol 5 ml, and 40% ethanol 5 ml + 50 mg Clomiphene citrate/kg body weight, respectively, while groups 4, 5 and 6 received 40% ethanol 5 ml + CP 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Sperm counts and motility were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in group 2 compared to group 1. Testosterone significantly increased (p < 0.05) in CP-treated groups, and luteinizing hormone was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Group 2 showed spermatogenic cell distortions which were ameliorated in the CP-treated groups. CP exerted testicular protective potential against ethanol-induced testicular toxicity plausibly via its antioxidant mechanism.
Keywords: Alcohol; Carica papaya; Sex hormones; Sperm; Testicular toxicity.
© Korean Society of Toxicology 2019.