adult male Wistar rats

Calabar stone is also known as poto in English is a clay held in a belt-like textile material that is wrapped around the waist and eaten as desired, frequently without water. This study aims to determine the effect of calabar stone on the testis of adult male Wistar rats. Twenty (20) rats were divided into four groups (A-D). Group A served as the control group and the animals were given regular feed and water. Group B served as low dose group and the animals were given 100mg/kg of dissolved calabash chalk along with regular feed and water. Group C served as medium dose group and it animals received 200mg/kg of dissolved calabash chalk along with regular feed. Group D served as the high dose group and the animals were administered with 400mg/kg of dissolved calabash chalk as well as regular food and water. All animals were sacrificed on the??? day. Body weight change and testicular weight index were determined. Testicular tissues were collected for assessment of sperm morphology as well as haematoxylin and eosin staining. Body weight increased in all groups from the initial mean weight of 171.5g, though significantly (P<0.05) only in group C. Testicular weight significantly increased (P<0.05) in group B. A significant increase (P<0.05) was also observed in the testicular index for animals in group B. There was no statistically significant change (P<0.05) in the sperm morphology across all groups. H&E staining revealed mild leydig cell hyperplasia across all groups which are a possible evidence of testicular tumour that appear in about 3% of the general population. Increased luminal diameter was seen in group D animals which suggested spermiation. It can be concluded that Calabar Chalk has no significant effect on the testes.