Effects of Oral Administration of Red Palm Oil on Dichlorvos Induced Testicular Toxicity and Sperm Parameters in Albino Rats

Dichlorvos (2, 2-Dichlorovinyl Dimethyl Phosphate also known as DDVP) is an an organophosphate pesticide/ insecticide having oncogenic, genotoxic, neurotoxic and reproductive toxicity effects on the body. Elaeis guinensis (Palm oil) is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp ( reddish pulp) of fruit of the oil with antioxidant properties, beta-carotene content with highly saturated vegetable fats and is semi-solid at room temperature. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of oral administration of Red Palm Oil (RPO) on Dichlorvos (DDVP) induced testicular toxicity and sperm parameters in male albino rats. Concentration of 1ml of DDVP was diluted in 1000mls of distilled water and kept in a bottle for 3 days. 2 mls of red palm oil, 2 mls of red palm oil plus 1 ml of diluted DDVP, 1ml of diluted DDVP and 1 ml ordinary water were administered orally for 14 days respectively. Sperm parameters carried out were sperm count, motility, morphology and testicular histology analysis. The result obtained showed that DDVP administration significantly decrease sperm count, motility and morphological analysis (p<0.05). There is no significant difference in the value obtained for RPO induced rats in sperm count but significantly decrease in sperm motility and morphological analysis when compared with the value of the control (p<0.05). However, the group administered with RPO + DDVP shows significant increase in sperm count only. RPO histological analysis shows increase and well-formed seminiferous tubules with increase spermatogenic cells while DDVP shows laminar vacuolation, cellular degeneration and disruptions of seminiferous tubules. The group administered with RPO + DDVP shows an improving spermatogenic cells and normal seminiferous tubules. Therefore, this study establishes that RPO could offer positive protection against DDVP induced testicular damages.