Prejuízo no comportamento e dano no sistema reprodutor de ratos Wistar após administração do extrato aquoso dos frutos de Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn.

Resumo (EN)

Buchinha-do-norte (Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn., Cucurbitaceae) is popularly used to relieve symptoms of sinusitis, although information on the influence of plant administration over behavior and over the male reproductive system is scarce in the literature and extremely prospective. The present study aims to fulfill the gap of information focusing on quantitatively overseeing the question.The strategy was to observe rat locomotion and anxiety in the open field (OF) and in the light-dark test (LDT), and then observe the macroscopical and microscopical alterations on rats testis. Rats were divided into two groups, control (GC) and experimental (GE). GE received 1.0 mg/kg per day of EBN, orally, for five consecutive days, while GC received water following the same posology. In the 6th day, each animal was evaluated in OF and in LDT for three min each apparatus. Afterwards, the animals were euthanized and the left testicles were removed. In the OF, GE animals showed decreased locomotion and remained less time in the center of the apparatus, demonstrating a possible anxiety. In the LDT, GE animals showed significant difficulty in moving into the light side of the device, remained longer in the dark side, less displacement on both sides and less transitions between sides. These characteristics may be related to the occurrence of anxiety in the GE induced by the EBN administration. Testicle weights, relative weights, testicular volume, craniocaudal and laterolateral axes presented an increase in relation to the CG. Microscopic changes were also observed in the parenchyma, lumen and diameter of the seminiferous tubules. The administration of EBN significantly altered anxiety, locomotion and the testes of rats.