Histomorphological Evaluation of Reproductive Organs Following Piper betel (Linn.) Leaf Stalk Extract Administration in Male Albino Rats

Aim: To evaluate the histological effects of Piper betel leaf stalk extract on reproductive organs and the liver in male rats
Study Design: Aqueous P. betel leaf stalk extract was administered to rats at the dose of 50 mg/Kg/day by oral gavage for 15 days. Twenty four hours after the last dose, the animals were autopsied. Testis, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate and the liver were isolated and fixed immediately in Bouin’s fluid for 24 hours. The tissues were dehydrated in various grades of alcohol, cleaned in xylene and after embedding in paraffin, blocks were prepared. Paraffin sections of 5µ thickness were cut with rotary microtome and processed for staining.
Place and Duration of Study: Place of study was S.V. University, Department of Zoology, Tirupati, India and experiment lasted for 6 months.
Results: P. betel leaf stalk extract administration caused seminiferous tubular derangement and sloughing of germ cells in testes. The histological changes were more pronounced in caput epididymis, reduction in lumen size due to creeping in of mucosal folds and lowering of secretion. Hepatic cell proliferation and Kupffer cell activation were also observed in liver of extract treated rats.
Conclusion: Piper betel leaf stalk extract is deleterious to histology or architecture of reproductive organs, which may affect spermatogenic function of the testis.