Volume 20, Issue 45, January - June, 2026

Effects of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit ethyl acetate fraction, apigenin and fluoxetine on the testes of Swiss mice exposed to stress

Eno-Obong I. Bassey^1♦, Osayuwame B. Davies¹, Akpanabasi A. Malachy¹, Moses B. Ekong¹, Iniobong G. Essien¹

¹Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding Author
Eno-Obong I. Bassey, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Stress significantly influences changes in numerous physiological processes and may contribute to various disorders, including male sub-fertility or infertility. This study aimed at assessing the effects of Tetrapleura tetraptera (TT) fruit ethyl acetate fraction, apigenin and fluoxetine on the inflammatory changes in the testes using caspase-3 stains, testicular hormones (testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone) and testes homogenate of malondialdehyde, catalase, and superoxide dismutase following chronic unpredictable mild stress. Twenty five male Swiss mice (20-30g) were divided into five groups (1-5, n=5) for this study: Group 1 served as the control and received 20 mL/kg body weight of distilled water; groups 2-5 were; stress + water, stress + 50 mg/kg body weight ethyl acetate fraction of TT fruit, stress + 50 mg/kg body weight of apigenin, and stress + 50 mg/kg body weight of fluoxetine. The mice had exposure to different specific stressors, administrations given orally, and the experiment lasted for 28 days. The testes were processed and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. The results showed that stress led to significant (p<0.05) weight loss, while the TT extract resulted in severe weight loss. Also, TT, apigenin, and fluoxetine all reduced normal sperm morphology and sperm concentration. There was severe distortion of tissue structures in testes by stress. In conclusion, stress had negative effects on reproductive health.

Keywords: Tetrapleura tetraptera, apigenin, fluoxetine, and testes

Drug Discovery, 2026, 20(45), e9dd3059

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Published: 21 March 2026