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Background <p>The rabbit industry has embraced the use of unconventional feed ingredients; however, its impact on reproductive indices and other internal organs for optimum productivity has not been thoroughly investigated. This study was therefore carried out to assess the impact of <i>Carica papaya</i> leaf meal (CPLM) on testicular histology, epididymal sperm reserve and organ weights of rabbit bucks. Twenty-four&#xa0;male rabbits aged 7–8&#xa0;months old were randomly&#xa0;allotted&#xa0;into four groups (CPLM0, CPLM5, CPLM10 and CPLM15) with six replicates each&#xa0;and fed pelletized diets containing 0, 50, 100 and 150&#xa0;g of&#xa0;<i>Carica&#xa0;papaya</i>&#xa0;per kg of diet, respectively, at 120&#xa0;g/rabbit/day for&#xa0;8&#xa0;weeks. The feed intake was recorded daily and weights of the animals taken weekly. At the end of the experiment, the rabbits were sacrificed, the testes, epididymis and some internal organs were carefully removed and weighed. The testes were subjected to histological assessment, and the epididymal sperm concentration was obtained using direct haemocytometric count.</p> Results <p>Feed intake was higher in male rabbits fed diet with no CPLM. Bucks fed CPLM diets had higher number of testes with poor architecture compared with those fed diets without CPLM. Poor cytoarchitecture increased from 33.30 to 66.70% in the left testes while 33.30 to 100% was observed in the right testes as the dietary levels of CPLM increased from 5 to 15%. The liver, kidney and gall bladder weights of the rabbits fed 15% CPLM was significantly lower compared to that of rabbits fed no CPLM. No significant differences were recorded in the weight and sperm reserve of the epididymis.</p> Conclusion <p><i>Carica papaya</i> leaf meal is rich in nutrients but may possess some phytochemicals that can impair testicular development in rabbit bucks therefore should not be fed beyond 5% in breeder stock of male rabbits.</p>

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Impact of Carica papaya leaf meal on testes, epididymis and organ weights of rabbit bucks

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月10日

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  • Adenike Abiodun Adeyemi,
  • Oluwasegun Onaopemipo Alake,
  • Olaoluwa Babatunde Oguntola

摘要

Background

The rabbit industry has embraced the use of unconventional feed ingredients; however, its impact on reproductive indices and other internal organs for optimum productivity has not been thoroughly investigated. This study was therefore carried out to assess the impact of Carica papaya leaf meal (CPLM) on testicular histology, epididymal sperm reserve and organ weights of rabbit bucks. Twenty-four male rabbits aged 7–8 months old were randomly allotted into four groups (CPLM0, CPLM5, CPLM10 and CPLM15) with six replicates each and fed pelletized diets containing 0, 50, 100 and 150 g of Carica papaya per kg of diet, respectively, at 120 g/rabbit/day for 8 weeks. The feed intake was recorded daily and weights of the animals taken weekly. At the end of the experiment, the rabbits were sacrificed, the testes, epididymis and some internal organs were carefully removed and weighed. The testes were subjected to histological assessment, and the epididymal sperm concentration was obtained using direct haemocytometric count.

Results

Feed intake was higher in male rabbits fed diet with no CPLM. Bucks fed CPLM diets had higher number of testes with poor architecture compared with those fed diets without CPLM. Poor cytoarchitecture increased from 33.30 to 66.70% in the left testes while 33.30 to 100% was observed in the right testes as the dietary levels of CPLM increased from 5 to 15%. The liver, kidney and gall bladder weights of the rabbits fed 15% CPLM was significantly lower compared to that of rabbits fed no CPLM. No significant differences were recorded in the weight and sperm reserve of the epididymis.

Conclusion

Carica papaya leaf meal is rich in nutrients but may possess some phytochemicals that can impair testicular development in rabbit bucks therefore should not be fed beyond 5% in breeder stock of male rabbits.