Histopathological and histochemical changes in rat's testes following repeated halothane exposure

ABSTRACT

Three groups of rats, 4 animals each, were used. Group I was kept as a control. Group II was exposed to halothane 1.5% for 20 minutes every other day for 13 exposures. Phenobarbtion 0.1% in milk was given to the rats Group III which were similarly exposed to halothane. Sections from the testes were stained with H and E, PAS and for detecting alkaline phosphatase activity. There were marked testicular atrophy, degeneration of the germinal epithelium and necrosis of the interstitial tissue in Group II. While more advanced changes were seen in Group III, seminiferous were atrophied, widely separated and contained no sperms. The intersititialaltissue was completely fibrosed. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme showed strong +ve activity in the thick walled blood vessels and the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules in group II, and a weak +ve actifity in the degenerated testicular tissue in Group III