engleski

Disorders of male reproductive tract under the influence of atrazine

The effects of atrazine exposure on testicular sperm number epididymal sperm number and motility and alpha-glucosisase activity in the epididymis were studied in Fisher rats. Histological changes in the testicular tissue were followed by light and electron microscopy. Groups of adult animals were treated i.p. with 60 and 120 mg atrazine kg/body wt. twice a week over 60 days. The results indicate a decrease in the body weight and relative weights of pituitary and ventral prostate vs. control, measured on the last day of treatment in both treated groups. Testicular sperm number (expressed as number of spern per 500 Sertoli cells) in atrazine-treated groups increased with the treatment time due to the reduced sperm motility. Therefore the atrazine treatment provoked a significant decrease in sperm numner and motility in epididymis, measured after the last day of treatment. Alpha-glucosidase activity in the epididymis, after the last day of treatment, showed a decrease in both treated groups vs. control values. Histological analysis of testicular tissue from treated rats showed the cell disorganization and cell clusters together with spermatocytes. Electron microscopy presented differently vacuolated cytoplasm, collagen fibre was reduced, Leydig cells were of irregular shape with unequal form and cisternae of rough endoplasmatic reticulum were accentuated and softly widened. In Sertoli cell cytoplasm, atrazine treatment provoked degenerative changes. According to the results obtained, it is evident that atrazine exerted morphological changes and a toxic effect on sperm and their motility.

atrazine; spermatogenesis; sperm number and motility; testicular morphology; alpha-glucosidase

nije evidentirano