Anti-tumouric capacity`of <i>Uvaria chamae</i> root extract on cadmium-induced testicular solid mass tumour in Wistar rats

This study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of Uvaria chamae root extract on cadmium-induced testicular solid mass tumour. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were used and the experiment lasted for 8_weeks. The rats were divided into five groups of five animals each namely: Group one (control) were fed with a normal diet and distilled water, Group two; rats were administered 3_mg/kg of cadmium only, Group three; rats were administered 3_mg/kg of cadmium and treated with 500_mg/kg of Uvaria chamae root extract, Group four; rats were administered 3_mg/kg of cadmium and treated with 1000_mg/kg of Uvaria chamae root extract and Group five were administered 3mg/kg of cadmium and treated with 1500_mg/kg of Uvaria chamae root extract. After the experiment, the rats were anaesthetized, sacrificed and the testes were harvested. Testicular tissues were immediately fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining method. From our findings, Group one showed normal testicular histomorphology, Group 2 showed interstitial connective tissue degeneration, detachment of the seminiferous tubules from their support, Leydig cells and spermatogenic cell necrosis and formation of solid masses of tumors within the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, Group 3 showed rejuvenation of the interstitial connective tissues with persistent Leydig cells necrosis and continuous formation of solid masses of tumors within the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, Group four showed rejuvenation of the interstitial connective tissue at several regions within the testis, presence of spermatogenic cells, disappearance and reduction of the solid masses of tumour in majority of the seminiferous tubules but with few tumor-like growth within few seminiferous tubules, Group 5 revealed rejuvenation of the interstitial connective tissue at several regions within the testis, presence of spermatogenic cells and disappearance and reduction of the solid masses of tumor in majority of the seminiferous tubules. Following these results, it is safe to say that Uvaria chamae root extract can ameliorate the effects of cadmium-induced testicular tumours on the testes.