Stereological study of the effects of vitamin E on testis structure in rats treated with para-nonylphenol

Abstract

This study was organized to see whether vitamin E, as a strong antioxidant, could affect the abnormalities of testis structure caused by para-nonylphenol (p-NP) during its development. A total of 32 female Wistar rats after mating were divided into four groups (n = 8): control, vitamin E (100 mg kg(-1) per day), p-NP (250 mg kg(-1) per day) and p-NP + vitamin E. The rats were treated from the seventh day of pregnancy till the twenty-first day. After weaning, the male pups were divided into the same groups and were treated orally for 90 days. Finally, the right testis was fixed, processed, stained and studied using stereological methods. The weight and volume of testis, volume of seminiferous tubules and its diameter, thickness of the basement membrane, height of the germinal epithelium, total number of types A and B spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid and Sertoli cells were significantly reduced in p-NP group when compared with other groups. Co-administration of vitamin E and p-NP compensated for the adverse effects of p-NP on the above parameters. In addition, treatment with only vitamin E caused a significant increase in diameter, basement membrane thickness and height of germinal epithelium, number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Co-administration of vitamin E with p-NP could prevent the adverse effects of p-NP on the testis structure during its development.

Figure 1

A to D: Micrographs of testis tissue in different groups of rats, consisting of A) control, B) vitamin E (100mg / kg / day), C) p-NP (250mg / kg / day), and D) p-NP + vitamin E. sections with 500 nm thickness and Toluiden blue staining. A) Showing the normal amount of sperm (thick arrows) and normal height with regular arrangement of germinal epithelium in the control group. B) Showing normal amount of sperm (thin arrows) and an increase in the height of germinal epithelium in the vitamin E treated group compared with the other groups. C) Showing reduction in the amount of sperm (star) with an irregular and vacuolated germinal epithelium in p-NP group (thin arrow). D) Showing an increase in the amount of sperm (star) with regular arrangement of germinal epithelium in p-NP + vitamin E group compared with p-NP group.