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Chronic cassava meal modulates body weight, histology and weight of reproductive organs in male albino rats

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Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated the effect of chronic cassava meals on some reproductive parameters of male albino rats.

Methods

Twenty-four sexually mature albino rats were divided into four groups which received oral treatments from a variety of cassava products containing cyanogenic glycosides in varying quantities: Group A—Control (received 300 g normal rat feeds); Group B (received 50 g red garri at a concentration of 150 ppm cyanogenic glycosides/rat/day); Group C (received 50 g white garri at a concentration of 200 ppm cyanogenic glycosides/rat/day); and Group D (received 50 g raw cassava at a concentration of 400 ppm cyanogenic glycosides/rat/day). After 60 days of treatment, male reproductive organs were harvested from the rats for histological examination. Also noted were the weights of the body and the organs.

Results

The weight of the body and reproductive organs significantly changed in group D after receiving raw cassava at a dose of 400 ppm/rat/day. Compared to the group treated with red garri at 100 ppm/rat/day cyanogenic glycosides, which showed no significant changes in body weight gain or the weight of the reproductive organs, the white garri group showed substantial changes in the testis and prostate weight. The group given 150 ppm/rat/day of red garri did not exhibit any changes in histology, but the groups given 150 ppm/rat/day of white garri and 400 ppm/rat/day of raw cassava displayed testicular atrophy, degeneration, vacuolation, decreased secretion, and desquamation of glandular epithelium in the prostate.

Conclusions

This study has revealed that the concentration of cyanogenic glycosides is higher in raw cassava and white garri than red garri, and that 400 ppm/day of cyanogenic glycosides may have negative impacts on their ability to reproduce.

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Availability of data and materials

Data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies. The research was financed from the authors’ own funds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

    Olisemeke U. Egbune, Ahmed M. Sabo & Kemakolam Amadi

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria

    Egoamaka O. Egbune

  3. Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State, Nigeria

    Osuvwe C. Orororo & Theresa Ezedom

  4. Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa

    Ogheneyoma Onojakpor

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  1. Olisemeke U. Egbune
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Correspondence to Egoamaka O. Egbune.

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Conflict of interest

Olisemeke U. Egbune, Egoamaka O. Egbune, Osuvwe C. Orororo, Theresa Ezedom, Ogheneyoma Onojakpor, Ahmed M. Sabo and Kemakolam Amadi declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The care and use of the animals and the experimental protocol were in accordance with the Ethical Committee and Experimental unit of the Animal House University of Jos. Ethical Clearance was applied for and obtained before the commencement of the study (UJ/2020/05/22).

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Egbune, O.U., Egbune, E.O., Orororo, O.C. et al. Chronic cassava meal modulates body weight, histology and weight of reproductive organs in male albino rats. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 15, 257–266 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-023-00179-4

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