Received August 25, 2020
Accepted August 06, 2021

Objective: This comparative study was designed to demonstrate the effects of Yaji (suya meat sauce) and its composite spices on testicular histology, serum testosterone level and semen analysis to evaluate it effect on male fertility profile. Methods: 70 adult male Sprague – Dawley rats, with an average weight of 120g was used for the study. They were divided into two (2) experimental study groups; i.e those studied for 28 and 56 days respectively. These experimental groups have 35 rats, subdivided into seven (7) treatment groups (A – G; n=5 each). Group A - Control, Group B: 200mg/kg of Yaji, Group C: 200mg/kg of red pepper, group D: 200mg/kg of black pepper, group E: 200mg/kg of clove, Group F: 200mg/kg of ginger and group G: 200mg/kg of garlic given orally using an oral cannula. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized; blood collected via cardiac puncture, testes excised and wet weight taken. The cauda epididymis was excised for semen analysis using Neubauer Counting Chamber (haemocytometer) and testes fixed in Bouin’s Fluid were processed and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. Results: There were a significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight, testicular weight, serum testosterone level, sperm count and motility in the Yaji treated groups as well as significant increase in Serum testosterone level, Sperm count and Sperm motility, while also enhancing spermatogenesis and Leydig cells proliferation in vivo as compared to its isolated component spices which also causes changes in testosterone and semen profiles as compared with the control. Conclusion: Yaji or its individual spices has the ability to boost male fertility parameters when consumed in moderated quantities without the additives or condiments called monosodium glutamate known to be cytotoxic.