Raphael Eguono Uwejigho - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Laje Campus, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Kingsley Afoke Iteire - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Laje Campus, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Felix Udawmojo Enemali - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Laje Campus, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Background: Aerva lanata, a herb used as food and also consumed as a tonic by pregnant women to relieve stomach pains and prevent miscarriage. In addition to other characterized properties, it possesses antifertility and anti-implantation activities. Objective: This study investigates the testicular toxicity of the testes of offsprings of Dams treated with crude aqueous extract of Aerva lanata. Materials and Methods: ۲۵ pregnant Wistar rats (Dams) weighing ۱۸۰-۲۴۰ gr were randomly earmarked into ۵ groups (n = ۵/each). Group A served as control; groups B, C, D, and E received ۲۰۰, ۴۰۰, ۸۰۰, and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg body weight of Aerva lanata extract, respectively, beginning from ۱۲th to ۱۹th day of gestation. The pups (delivered of Dams) were weighed, observed, and sacrificed ۶ wk post-parturition. The testes of the male pups were obtained for histological procedures the testis histology was examined. Results: No gross malformation was observed in the treatment groups, the number of pups/litter was significantly reduced in group E (p = ۰.۰۱), pups weight analysis showed a significant reduction in groups C and E (p = ۰.۰۴, and ۰.۰۲ respectively), and the mean pup testes weight was significantly reduced in groups B, C, D, and E (p = ۰.۰۳, ۰.۰۳, ۰.۰۱, and < ۰.۰۰۱ respectively) when compared with control. Histologically, the treated pup testes tissues showed varying degrees of disruption and distortion of the cellular arrangements of the germinal epithelium in a dose dependent manner compared to the control. Conclusion: The study revealed a testicular toxicity and possibly antifertility role of Aerva lanata in dams’ pups.

Amaranthaceae, Fertility, Male fertility, Male reproductive system, Local herbs., تاج خروس, باروری, باروری نر, دستگاه تناسلی نر, گیاهان محلی.