Histological Changes in Ovaries of Mice Exposed to Butea monosperma: Preliminary Study

• Published in: International journal of morphology 2010-12, Vol.28 (4), p.1309-1314
• Main Authors: Gupta, Neelam, Singh, Gajendra, Singh, S. M, Reddy, K. R. C
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY
• ISSN: 0717-9502; 0717-9502
• DOI: 10.4067/S0717-95022010000400051

In Ayurvedic practice Butea monosperma (Palash) is in clinical use for hundreds of years as a contraceptive. Seeds of Butea monosperma are also used as an anthelmitic (Ansani et al., 1979) and antimicrobial (Avirutnant & Pongpan, 1983). Butea monosperma (Fabaceae family) locally known as Palash (Dhak) if given for 3 consecutive days acts as an antifertility agent for which it has been is traditionally used since time immemorial. The objective of the present study was to search the effect of Butea monosperma seeds on the ovary of mice. Observations in the present study were massive degeneration of ova in almost all the follicles, irrespective of the stage of their development. The ova from treated animals showed different stages of necrotic process. Moreover, the arrangement of follicular cells was also disturbed. The Palash seeds in the form of powder when administered orally with distilled water, according to the body weight i.e.2g/Kg, of female mice, for three consecutive days showed notable changes in ovaries. The animals were sacrificed on day next to the last day of treatment and ovaries were extirpated. Ovaries studied histologically after Haematoxylin & Eosin staining showed most of the follicle in immature state with undefined nucleus and nucleoli in the ovum. Others showed degenerative changes in the ovum. Follicles had lost their normal shape and arrangement and organization of granulosa cells. It was conspicuous to find that almost all follicles including graafian follicles of treated ovaries were undergoing degenerative changes simultaneously. The rate of apoptosis in the granulosa cells when studied was found increased in treated cases as compared with control. The study suggests that the disintegration of ova in the ovaries is a specific effect of Butea monosperma seed administration.