The effect of feeding on Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit. on reproduction in rats

Abstract

In separate experiments, mature rats were either given a ration containing L. leucocephala leaf meal at 15% or 7 3% level, or dosed orally each day with water extract of the leaf meal before and during the breeding period. At the 15% level, the food intake of the rats was greatly reduced, and they showed general symptoms of inanition. All the females were infertile and the males showed reduced libido and fertility. In the other experiments the majority of the females conceived, but on autopsy it was observed that they had a significantly larger proportion of foetuses dead and undergoing resorption as compared with those of the control group. The results suggested that the toxic material in L. leucocephala, probably mimosine, produced infertility in the rat by reducing the food intake; when food consumption was adequate for reproductive function, the toxic material caused a high incidence of foetal death and resorption.