Effect of Cadmium and Soursop Leaf Extract on the Uterus Histology of Adult Albino Rats

Abstract

Cadmium is a persistent environmental contaminant associated with reproductive toxicity, including structural and functional alterations of the female reproductive system. Annona muricata (soursop) contains bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties that may protect tissues against toxicant-induced damage. This study investigated the effect of A. muricata leaf extract on cadmium-induced histological changes in the uterus of adult albino rats. Fifty adult albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10). Group A served as the control, while Groups B–D received cadmium (0.5 mg/kg) combined with low (200 mg/kg), medium (400 mg/kg), and high (800 mg/kg) doses of A. muricata leaf extract, respectively. Group E received cadmium only. Treatments were administered orally for two weeks. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, and uterine tissues were collected, fixed in 10% formol saline, processed routinely, and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for microscopic examination. Histological changes were additionally graded by two blinded observers using a semi-quantitative severity scale (0 = normal to 3 = severe). The control group showed normal uterine architecture (score 0), whereas cadmium administration alone resulted in intravascular and extravascular oedema (score 3). Cellular vacuolisation suggestive of hydropic degeneration was observed in the low-dose A. muricata group (score 1), while fibrosis formation occurred in the medium-dose group (score 2). In contrast, the high-dose A. muricata group exhibited normal uterine architecture (score 0). The findings indicate that cadmium induced adverse histological alterations in the uterus, while A. muricata leaf extract, particularly at the high dose, was associated with preservation of normal uterine morphology. Annona muricata may therefore have protective potential against cadmium-induced uterine tissue damage, although the underlying antioxidant mechanism was not directly assessed in this study.