ABSTRACT
Acrylamide [AA] has been shown to be a reproductive toxicant in animals and is associated with risk of cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dose-dependent acute testicular toxicity of AA in rats. Experimental study King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Forty-eight rats Animals were loaded with AA orally at doses [5, 15, 30, 45, 60 mg/kg/day] for five consecutive days Histopathological effects of AA on testis and epididymis AA induced a significant body weight reduction, increase in testis / body weight ratio and a significant reduction in sperm count, in the two groups treated with 45 mg and 60 mg/kg/day. Abnormal sperm shapes were detected in all groups. Histopathological signs of AA toxicity on testes and epididymis included; degeneration of spermatogonia, widening of intercellular junctions and degeneration of peritubular myoid cell. Sertoli cells showed darkening of its nuclei, detachment from the basement membrane, increase in the number and size of lipid droplets in their cytoplasm, failure of sperm release and phagocytosis of some sperms. Leydig cell atrophy was observed which contributed to sperm defects and various abnormal histopathological lesions including apoptosis in rat testis. A possible cause of tail intersegmentation seen in mature sperm tails was clarified by electron microscope [EM]examination. AA induced harmful effects on the testis evidenced by degeneration of spermatogenic and Sertoli cells and Leydig cells atrophy in addition to reducing sperm count and appearance of abnormal sperms