Antispermatogenic action of Celastrus paniculatus seed extract in the rat with reversible changes in the liver

Biochemical, histochemical and histological studies of the effects of an oily extractive from the seeds of Celastrus paniculatus were done on the testes and liver of adult rats. The testis of treated animals showed vacuolization, germ cell depletion and arrest of spermatogenesis. The livers revealed focal necrosis in animals receiving 0.2 ml i.p. every other day for 30 days, but 45 days post treatment these lesions were absent. Intermediate repair and regenerative changes were apparent 30 days post treatment. These results indicate that Celastrus paniculatus oil may have useful antifertility effects and that the degenerative changes seen in the liver are reversible with time.