Effects of short-term treatment of solasodine on cauda epididymis in dogs.

Oral administration (80 mg/kg body wt/day for 30 days) of solasodine (extracted and isolated from the berries of the Solanum xanthocarpum) to intact dogs significantly decreased the epithelial cell height of cauda epididymides. The cells became atrophic and the lumen was devoid of spermatozoa. Castration followed by the adminstration of solasodine further reduced the epithelial cell height in comparison to castrated controls. Concurrent treatment of solasodine along with testosterone propionate was unable to restore the normal epithelial lumen parameters. Total protein, sialic acid, glycogen and acid phosphatase activities were significantly reduced in solasodine treated cauda epididymides. These result suggest antiandrogenic potency of solasodine.