Aliye, Abubeker Mohammed (2010) Effects of Khat Extract and Cathinone on Reproductive Parameters of Male Rats. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
Khat (Catha edulis) is extensively used in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It has also become a growing concern in the developed world. Khat is reported to alter reproductive behavior; however, conflicting results have been published in the literature. Khat is shown to increase sexual desire and suggested as an aphrodisiac. Moreover, constituents of khat have been demonstrated to stimulate the final stage of sperm maturation in mouse and human. On the other hand, khat is reported to impair the male reproductive system and also to induce a deleterious effect on morphology, count and motility of sperm. Controversy remains regarding the potential effects and mechanisms by which khat may affect reproductive functions. The aim of this work was therefore to add to the body of evidence by evaluating the effect of crude khat extract and cathinone on reproductive ability of male rats. Male Sprague-Dawely rats were treated with khat extract (100, K100; 200, K200; and 300, K300 mg/kg doses) and cathinone (5 mg/kg, CAT5) intragastrically and subjected to a battery of behavioral tests. This was followed by hormonal analyses, sperm count and morphologic-pathology studies. The results illustrated that khat extract produced a biphasic response on sexual behavior of male rats. Both K200 and K300 decreased parameters showing sexual desire and performance. In contrast, K100 appeared to enhance sexual desire, with parameters showing sexual performance were unchanged. On the other hand, CAT5 seemed to reduce sexual desire and performance. Like sexual behavior, khat extract produced a biphasic effect on serum level of testosterone. Whilst serum level of testosterone was doubled in rats treated K100 (P<0.01), a significant drop was recorded in rats treated with K200 (by 18%, P<0.01) and K300 (by 50%, P<0.01). CAT5, however, was noted not to affect serum testosterone level. A different pattern emerged with cortisol level. K200 and K300 were associated with a rise in serum cortisol level by 83% (P<0.05) and 164.5% (P<0.01), respectively. By contrast, K100 and CAT5 failed to alter cortisol level. Khat extract demonstrated a dose dependant decline in epididymal sperm count of male rats: 50% with K100 (P<0.05), 78% with K200 (P<0.01) and 89% with K300 (P<0.01). Surprisingly, CAT5 did not produce any significant change in sperm count. All doses of khat extract and cathinone did not produce any discernible damage on the reproductive tissues studied. The findings of the present study indicate that mild dose of khat improves sexual desire, without affecting performance. With increasing dose, however, khat reduces both desire and performance. Although testosterone level correlated well with desire, there was dissociation with sperm count, indicating that optimum level is required for normal spermatogenesis. Moreover, effect of khat on reproductive behavior seems to be a function of cathinone content of the extract.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Khat; Cathinone; Sexual desire; Sexual performance; Sperm count; Testosterone; Cortisol |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Vincent Mpoza |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Jun 2018 06:48 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Jun 2018 06:48 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5244 |
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