Abstract
Background: This study explored the effects of Cocos nucifera L. water (CW) on the hypothalamo-pituitarygonadal axis (HPG) and fertility in Wistar rats.
Methods: Adult male and female Wistar rats were treated orally as follows; Study 1: Group 1: control (distilled water), group 2: 20 ml/kg corn oil (danazol vehicle), group 3: 20 ml/kg CW, group 4: 40 ml/kg CW, group 5: danazol, group 6: danazol + 20 ml/kg CW and group 7: danazol + 40 ml/kg CW. 200 mg/kg danazol was administered. Serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and testosterone; gonadal weights and sperm indices were assessed. Study 2: Group 1: control (distilled water), group 2: 20 ml/kg CW, group 3: 40 ml/kg CW for 6 and 2 weeks prior to mating in male and female rats respectively.
Results: Significant (p<0.05) increases in estradiol concentration were observed in groups 3, 4, 6 and 7. Significant reductions in LH, FSH, estradiol and testosterone levels were observed in group 5 which were ameliorated in groups 6 and 7. Males showed significant increases in sperm count and motility in groups 3, 4, 6 and 7, and reductions in these variables along with viability in group 5. CW pre-treatment increased fecundity index and proportion of female pups from dams, while the pups from sires showed higher birth weights.
Conclusions: CW acts on the HPG to positively influence reproductive function in both males and females and may aid in maternal preconception sex selection of female offspring.
Keywords: Cocos nucifera, fertility, reproductive hormones, rats
Résumé
Contexte: Cette étude a exploré les effets du Cocos nucifera L. eau (CW) sur l’axe hypothalamus-hypophysegonadique (HPG) et la fertilité chez des rats Wistar.
Méthodes: Rats Wistar adulte mâles et femelles ont été traités par voie orale comme suit; Etude 1: Groupe 1: contrôle (eau distillée), groupe 2: 20 ml / kg d’huile de maïs (véhicule de danazol), groupe 3: 20 ml / kg CW, groupe 4: 40 ml / kg CW, groupe 5: le danazol, groupe 6: danazol + 20 ml / kg CW et groupe 7: danazol + 40 ml / kg CW. 200 mg / kg de danazol a été administrée. Les niveaux de sérum du LH, FSH, œstradiol et de la testostérone; poids des gonades et les indices de sperme ont été évalués. Étude 2: Groupe 1: le contrôle (de l’eau distillée), groupe 2: 20 ml / kg CW, groupe 3: 40 ml / kg CW pour 6 et 2 semaines avant l’accouplement des rats mâles et femelles respectivement.
Résultats: Des incréments significatives (p <0,05) dans la concentration d’œstradiol ont été observées dans les groupes 3, 4, 6 et 7. Des réductions significatives de LH, FSH, les niveaux d’œstradiol et de testostérone ont été observés dans le groupe 5 qui étaient amélioré dans les groupes 6 et 7. Les mâles ont montré une augmentation significative du nombre de spermatozoïdes et de la motilité dans les groupes 3, 4, 6 et 7, et des réductions dans ces variables ainsi que la viabilité dans le groupe 5. Prétraitement avec CW a augmenté l’indice de fécondité et la proportion de jeunes femelles des barrages, tandis que les souriceaux des sires ont montré un poids de naissance plus élevés.
Conclusions: CW acte sur l’HPG pour influencer positivement la fonction reproductive chez les mâles et les femelles et peut aider dans la préconception maternelle de la sélection du sexe de progéniture femelle.
Mots-clés: Cocos nucifera, fertilité, hormones reproductive, rats
Correspondence: Dr. Olufadekemi T. Kunle-Alabi, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: mrskalabi @ yahoo.com
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