Effect of water extract of carica papaya seed on the germinal epithelium of the seminiferous tubules of Sprague Dawley rats.

Extracts from different parts of the papaya have been reported to decrease the testicular weight of Wistar rats when administered orally for 8 weeks. It was however reported that suppression of spermatogenesis was observed in these rats following the administration of papaya seed extract. No histological abnormality was observed in these animals. In this experiment, water extract of papaya seeds, was administered orally to Sprague Dawley rats ad libitum for 8 weeks. Results showed that 3 weeks after commencement of this administration, the lumina of the seminiferous tubules were more prominent and empty in the experimental animals with no evidence of spermatids and spermatozoa. It also showed that the lateral walls of adjacent Sertolil cells lost contact with each other.