Biology and Medicine

Abstrait

Histological effects of a mixed diet containing crushed stem bark of Pausinystalia yohimbe on the kidneys of adult Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)

AO Eweka, FAE Om

The effect of yohimbine, used as an aphrodisiac and for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in males on the kidneys of adult Wistar rats was studied. Adult male and female Wistar rats (n=30), with an average weight of 190 g, were randomly divided into three treatment (n=24) and control (n=6) groups; labeled as Groups A (n=8), B (n=8), C (n=8) and D, control (n=6) respectively and were given crushed stem bark of Pausinystalia yohimbe in different amounts; Group A: 30 g, Group B: 50 g and Group C: 70 g mixed with an equal amount of feed (550 grams/day of growth mash) for a period of 14 days. Control rats were given an equal amount of growth mash without the addition of crushed stem bark of Pausinystalia yohimbe. The culture mash was obtained from Edo Feeds and Flour Mill Ltd, Ewu, Edo State, and the rats were watered liberally. The rats were sacrificed on the fifteenth day of the experiment. The kidneys were carefully dissected and rapidly fixed in 10% buffered formalin for routine histological procedures. Histological findings in the treated groups showed distortion of renal cortical structures, vacuolations appearing in the stroma, and some degree of cellular necrosis, with degenerative and atrophic changes compared with the control group. These results indicate that yohimbine may have deleterious effects on the kidneys of adult Wistar rats at various doses. Further studies are recommended to corroborate these findings.