Reproductive parameters are differentially altered following subchronic administration of Catha edulis F. (Khat) extract and XXXX in male @entity35 .

@entity2198 @entity251 @entity701 @entity35 @entity9266 @entity21936
AIMS OF THE STUDY: Controversy surrounds on the effect of khat, a widely chewed herb for its stimulant effect on sexuality. This study investigated the effect of fresh Catha edulis F. (Khat) extract, synthetic @entity21936 and vehicle on reproductive parameters, including sexual motivation and performance, serum @entity251 and @entity701 levels, epididymal sperm count, and histoarchitecture of testis in male @entity35 . OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of fresh Catha edulis Forsk (Khat, Celastraceae) extract, synthetic @entity21936 and vehicle on reproductive parameters, including sexual motivation and performance, serum @entity251 and @entity701 levels, epididymal sperm count, and histoarchitecture of testis in male @entity35 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: @entity35 were treated with either @entity9266 (3%, v/v) in water, khat extract (100mg/kg, K100; 200mg/kg, K200; and 300mg/kg, K300 doses) or @entity21936 (5mg/kg, CAT5) intragastrically for four weeks and subjected to a battery of behavioral tests. Three days following the last administration, blood was drawn for hormonal analysis and the animals were sacrificed for sperm count and morphologic-pathology studies. RESULTS: K100 significantly decreased mount latency (ML) (p<0.05) and intromission latency (IL) (p<0.01) compared to controls. K200 whilst significantly reduced IL (p<0.01) and intromission frequency (IF) (p<0.01), increased postejaculatory latency (PEL) (p<0.01). K300 significantly reduced IF (p<0.01) and ejaculatory latency (EL) (p<0.01), but increased @entity2198 ( @entity2198 ), IL, PEL, and ML (p<0.01, in all cases). With CAT5, @entity2198 (p<0.05) and IL (p<0.01) were significantly greater but EL and IF were lower (p<0.05, in both cases) than controls. Serum levels of @entity251 were doubled in K100 (p<0.01), but a significant decrease was recorded in both K200 (18%, p<0.01) and K300 (50%, p<0.01) @entity35 . Whereas K100 did not have any effect on @entity701 levels, K200 and K300 significantly increased by 83% (p<0.05) and 164.5% (p<0.01), respectively. CAT5 affected neither serum @entity251 nor @entity701 levels. Khat extract demonstrated a dose-dependent decline in epididymal sperm count: 50% with K100 (p<0.05), 78% with K200 (p<0.01) and 89% with K300 (p<0.01). CAT5 did not, however, produce any significant change in sperm count. Khat extract and @entity21936 did not produce any discernible damage on testis. CONCLUSION: Mild dose of khat improves sexual motivation, without much effect on performance. With increasing dose, however, both motivation and performance are reduced. Although @entity251 levels correlated well with motivation, there was dissociation with sperm count, indicating optimum level might be required for normal spermatogenesis.
