Effect of Cadmium Exposure and Annona muricata (Soursop) Leaf Extract on the Testis Histology of Adult Albino Rats

Abstract

Cadmium is a well-known environmental toxicant with significant reproductive toxicity, while Annona muricata is widely used in traditional medicine due to its reported antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. This study investigated the effect of cadmium exposure and Annona muricata (soursop) leaf extract on the testicular histology of adult albino rats. Fifty (50) adult albino rats weighing 100–130 g were acclimatised and randomly divided into five groups (A–E). Group A served as the control; Groups B–D received cadmium (0.5 mg/kg) with low (200 mg/kg), medium (400 mg/kg), and high (800 mg/kg) doses of soursop leaf extract, respectively; and Group E received cadmium (0.5 mg/kg) only. The substances were administered orally for two weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia, and testicular tissues were harvested, fixed in 10% formol saline, and processed using standard histological techniques. Sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and examined under a light microscope. Histological changes were additionally graded by two blinded observers using a semi-quantitative severity scale (0 = normal to 3 = severe). Photomicrographic analysis revealed normal testicular architecture in the control group (score 0). In contrast, all cadmium-exposed groups (Groups B-E) showed severe testicular degeneration (score 3), including seminiferous tubular damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and oedema, regardless of Annona muricata dose. Group B exhibited severe inflammatory infiltration; Group C showed marked oedema with cellular damage; and Group D demonstrated severe testicular degeneration despite receiving the highest extract dose. The cadmium-only group also revealed severe tissue damage with mild oedema. These findings indicate that, under the present experimental conditions, co-administration of Annona muricata leaf extract at any of the doses tested did not prevent cadmium-induced testicular damage, and any modulatory effect of the extract could not be confirmed by this study.