Antifertility studies of the root extract of the Barleria prionitis Linn in male albino rats with special reference to testicular cell population dynamics.

Oral administration of root extract of Barleria prionitis L. to male rats (100 mg/rat per day) for the period of 60 days did not cause body weight loss. The root extract brought about an interference with spermatogenesis. The round spermatids were decreased by 73.6% (P< or =0.001). No significant change was found in the population of secondary spermatocytes. However, the population of preleptotene spermatocytes were decreased by 41.9%. The extract reduced the fertility of male rats by 100%. Cross sectional surface area of Sertoli cells and mature Leydig cell numbers were significantly reduced (36.9%). The total protein, sialic acid contents of the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicle and prostate were reduced. Testicular glycogen contents were low. Antifertility effects of Barleria seemed to be mediated by disturbances in testicular somatic cells functions (Leydig and Sertoli cells) resulting in the physio-morphological events of spermatogenesis.