Effect of steroidal fraction of seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn. on rat testis.

Dose-dependent degenerative changes in the testicular weights, sperm count, later stages of spermatogenesis and Leydig cells are observed in testis of rats treated with steroidal fraction of seeds of A. precatorius. These are correlated with the dose-dependent decrease in the enzyme activity of 3 alpha, 3 beta, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and leucine aminopeptidase. The steroidal fraction may also exert its influence indirectly at the pituitary level by a feedback mechanism, leading to decrease in production and release of testosterone which results in significant alterations in the testis.