Effect of graded doses of Momordica charantia seed extract on rat sperm: scanning electron microscope study.

Morphological changes in sperm of albino rats observed under scanning electron microscopy illustrate the disturbance in the plasma membrane as well as in the acrosomal membrane on treatment with effect of graded doses of alcohol seed extract from Momordica charantia. Considerable changes in the shape and size of the sperm head were observed, with the middle region of the sperm head being slightly constricted dorsoventrally. Most sperm appeared morphologically abnormal in the mid-region of the tail, with formation of a balloon-like cytoplasmic droplet. The results of this study suggest that such effects may have resulted from a general disturbance in proteins and an alteration in the cauda epididymal milieu, probably due to androgen deficiency consequent to the anti-androgenic property of Momordica charantia seeds.