Demonstration of Sperm Morphology in Mice and Lizard Using Aqueous Extracts of Lawsonia inermis Leaf, Bougainvillea spectabilis Flower and Hibiscus sabdariffa Calyx

Spermatozoon is a mature male reproductive cell that is formed in the male reproductive system through a process called spermatogenesis. Available stains and techniques for sperm morphology are currently expensive with sophisticated procedures and synthetic dyes. The study aimed to demonstrate spermatozoa morphology in mice and lizards using aqueous extracts of Lawsonia Inermis leaf (LIL), Bougainvillea spectabilis flower (BSF), and Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx (HSC). The epididymal spermatozoa of mice and lizards were smeared on a glass slide, fixed, and stained with crystal violet, LIL, BSF, and HSC. Crystal violet showed complete staining of mice and lizard spermatozoa demonstrating both head and tail morphology. LIL, BSF, and HSC also showed complete staining of the tail in both animals. However, only the outline of the head was stained. Counterstaining the mice spermatozoa with eosin and haematoxylin produced a pink-stained and grey-stained head respectively. Counterstaining of lizard spermatozoa with eosin and haematoxylin did not improve head staining. In conclusion, the aqueous extract LIL, BSF, and HSC demonstrated both head and tail morphology of the spermatozoa in mice when counterstained with eosin. However, BSF and HSC stains did not show the head morphology in lizards even with counterstaining.