Effect of Perinatal and Postnatal Exposure of Aloe Vera Gel on Male Mice Epididymis at Puberty
Ibtisam Jasim Sodani,
Published on: 2020-02-28
Abstract
Background: In medicine, plants considered the main resource for drugs. In fact, it is estimated that 25% of prescription drugs have a plant origin. Aloe vera which is a pharmaceutical plant is useful for improving the body’s physiology and could be used for curing many diseases. However, there are a few studies related to the effects of Aloe vera on the reproductive system.
Aim of study: The main objective of this study is to investigatethe effect of perinatal and postnatal exposure to Aloe vera gel extract on the histological status of male mice epididymis at puberty.
Materials and Method: Forty mature female Swiss Webster mice were divided intoexperimental and control groups. These female mice were mating with fertile males.Following conception,thefemales given orally 10 µl of fresh Aloe vera gel extract started from the onset of gestationand continued throughout the gestation period (20 days). After parturition and through weaning time these male births were given orally 10 µl of fresh Aloe vera gel extract and continuous till six weeks. The female mice in the control group were given normal saline only by the same dose and route. Around puberty (aged six weeks) the male births were sacrificed then an incision was made in the pelvic region to get their testes. The epididymis was grasping gently, fixed, and then histological sections with a thickness of 5 microns were prepared.
Results: Histological observation of male mice epididymis prenatal exposure to a low dose of Aloe vera gel extract and continuous through weaning time till puberty showed a normal structural pattern with a great number of sperms in caput (head), corpus (body) and caudal (tail) epididymis. The lumen of the cauda epididymis contains a larger density of sperm cells.
Conclusions: Using a low dose of Aloe vera gel extract revealed a normal structural pattern of the epididymis, and it leads to enhancing the sperm amounts inside the epididymal lumen.
