Abstract:
The study's main objective was to assess any pathophysiological significance of Acacia nilotica pods
aqueous extract and Albizia lebbeck stem bark methanolic extract on the reproductive system of female
multimammate rats (Mastomys natalensis). A total of 60 sexually mature female rats were randomized
into a 2 × 3 factorial experimental design for treatments (Control, A. nilotica, and A. lebbeck) and
treatment duration (7 or 14 days). Control rats consumed basal feed only, whereas extract-treated rats
consumed the basal feed containing 2% w/w of either of the two plant extracts. At the end of treatment
duration, treated female rats were cohabited with males for 16 days and sacrificed 20 days after the first
day of cohabitation. Parameters including pregnancy rates, number of fetal implantations, possible
resorption sites and fetal litter size were assessed at necropsy. Further post-necropsy parameters were
evaluated in ovaries including the ovarian weights, follicular and corpora lutea numbers and general
histopathology. Results showed that pregnancy percentages, the number of fetal implantations and
fetal litter size were significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in rats under the A. nilotica and A. lebbeck extract
treatments relative to the control rats. The ovarian weights of rats receiving the extracts did not differ
significantly from their control counterparts (P > 0.05). However, the number of corpora lutea of
pregnancy was significantly reduced (P < 0.001) in ovaries of rats under extract treatments than in their
control counterparts. Instead, ovaries of rats receiving the two extracts contained a larger number of
degenerating follicles, signifying halted ovulatory and conception activities. The current study has
demonstrated that dietary inclusion of crude extracts from A. nilotica pods and A. lebbeck stem bark
can lead to decreased fertility success rates in M. natalensis female rats through suppression of
ovulatory activities and induction of follicular atresia.
