Effects of piperine on testis of albino rats

Piperine was administered to mature male albino rats at doses of 5 and 10 m g/kg body weight, p.o., respectively, for 30 days. Only a 10 mg dose of pip erine treatment caused a significant reduction in the weights of testis and accessory sex organs. Histological studies revealed that piperine at a 5 m g dose caused partial degeneration of germ cell types, whereas at a 10 mg d ose, it caused severe damage to the seminiferous tubule, decrease in semini ferous tubular and Leydig cell nuclear diameter and desquamation of spermat ocytes and spermatids. Correlated to the structural changes, a fall in capu t and cauda epididymal sperm concentrations was also evident. A 10 mg dose of piperine also caused a marked increase in serum gonadotropins and a decr ease in intratesticular testosterone concentration, despite normal serum te stosterone titres. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.