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Aim: To evaluate the administration of Carica papaya seed extract on the contractility of cauda epididymal tubules in male rats., Methods: Adult male albino rats were administered intramuscularly papaya seed extract at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Animals were killed, cauda epididymal tubules of 5 cm length were isolated and the contractile response to different concentrations of adrenalin (1-500 microg/25mL) was examined. In another group of animals, the contractile response was assayed 3 months after withdrawal of the treatment., Results: Papaya seed extract brought about a significant decrease in the contractile response of epididymal tubules as compared with the control. After three months of papaya withdrawal, a nearly normal pattern of contraction was regained., Conclusion: Papaya seed treatment reversibly reduces the contractile response of cauda epididymal tubules.

Aim: To assess the effect of aflatoxin on biochemical changes in the testis of mice and the possibility of amelioration by vitamin E treatment., Methods: Adult male albino mice were orally administered with 25 or 50 microg of aflatoxin/animal/day (750 or 1500 microg/kg body weight) for 45 days. The testis was isolated and processed for biochemical analysis., Results: There was a significant, dose-dependent reduction in DNA, RNA, protein, sialic acid contents and the activities of succinic dehydrogenase, adenosine triphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the testis of aflatoxin-treated mice as compared to the vehicle control. However, the acid phosphatase activity was significantly increased in the aflatoxin-treated mice. Vitamin E (2 mg/animal/day) treatment significantly ameliorated the aflatoxin-induced changes, except the acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in the high dose group., Conclusion: Vitamin E treatment ameliorates the aflatoxin-induced changes in the testis of mice.

The concentration of sodium chloride is of prime importance in the initiation and reversal of sperm quiescence in the cauda epididymis. Other factors such as inorganic and organic constituents of the luminal fluid are of secondary importance and might assist in inducing sperm quiescence.

Aim: To evaluate the ameliorative effect of vitamin E on aflatoxin-induced lipid peroxidation in the testis., Methods: Adult male albino mice were orally administered 25 or 50 microg of aflatoxin in 0.2 mL olive oil per d for 45 d. The testis was isolated, blotted free of blood and processed for biochemical analysis., Results: There was a dose-dependent significantly higher lipid peroxidation in the testis of aflatoxin treated mice than in the controls. The levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione, total and reduced ascorbic acid, as well as the activities of enzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were significantly lower in the testis of aflatoxin treated mice. Vitamin E (2 mg/d per animal; orally) pretreatment significantly ameliorates the aflatoxin-induced lipid peroxidation which could be due to higher enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in the testis of mice as compared with those given aflatoxin alone., Conclusion: Vitamin E pretreatment significantly ameliorates aflatoxin-induced lipid peroxidation in the testis of mice.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of aqueous Carica papaya seed extract on microenvironment of cauda epididymis., Methods: Adult male albino rats were intramuscularly administered with 0 (control) or 0.5 mg papaya seed extract/kg body weight for 7 days. Cauda epididymal tubular content was collected by micropuncture technique; epididymal luminal fluid and sperm pellets were separately analyzed., Results: The results revealed that the extract treatment caused significant reduction, as compared with control, in total protein and sialic acid contents in both epididymal fluid and sperm pellet. As compared with control, significantly lowered acid phosphatase activity was recorded in sperm pellet but was higher in epididymal fluid after the treatment. The extract treatment also caused significant reduction in level of inorganic phosphorus in the epididymal fluid., Conclusion: It is concluded that the aqueous papaya seed extract alters cauda epididymal microenvironment.